Vincent Charles Giannini of Hammonton, New Jersey passed away Friday, December 23, 2022.
Vincent was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on November 22, 1933, the third of nine children of Michael James and Theresa Marie (DiStefano) Giannini. He was a grandson of Michael and Angelina (Caracciolo) Giannini and of Stefano DiStefano and Maria (Antonacci) DiStefano Grazionale. Brother of Michael, Phyllis Wilkens (deceased), Joseph, Ruth Tocco (deceased), Richard, Theresa Prechodko, David and Robert (deceased). After his family moved from Philadelphia to New Jersey in 1939, Vince was raised on the family farms in the Waterford and Blue Anchor communities of Winslow Township. Among his many farm chores were plowing at first with horse and later with tractor, planting, harvesting and driving farm trucks laden with tons of tomatoes to the Campbell Soup plant in Camden, N.J. Vince enjoyed riding his swift farm horse. They would gallop out from different hiding places along the railroad track and race the passing train, with Vince laughing as the startled engineer hollered at them.
Vince graduated from Lower Camden County Regional High School in 1952. He was a lifelong learner, completing many higher-education courses through Rutgers University, Stockton University and numerous professional programs. Vince was a Hammonton resident since 1955. Through his business and public service activities, Vince dealt with thousands of people in the greater Hammonton area, throughout New Jersey, across the USA and internationally. Vince was licensed in New Jersey as an insurance agent in April 1956. In 1962, he became a licensed New Jersey real estate agent. He opened the V. C. Giannini Agency real estate brokerage on July 1, 1965. His firm’s slogan was “List with Giannini and start packing!” He was a long-time member of the Atlantic City & County Board of Realtors, the New Jersey Association of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors. Vince was founder and president of Palace Builders, Inc. Vince was very active in many local organizations promoting the well-being and economic opportunities for the people of the greater Hammonton area and Atlantic County. As a member of the Hammonton Jaycees, Vince was chairman of the Jaycee’s Auto Safety Program in 1962, rallying for seat belts in cars before auto manufacturers included them. For that community safety program, he selected the newly developed metal-to-metal safety seat belt buckle like the kind still used today. He arranged for any member of the community to obtain installation of seat belts in private vehicles through local service stations at a cost of $7.50 plus $2.50 installation each.
Vince was a volunteer for the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and performed complimentary watercraft safety inspections for boaters on regional waterways. Vince was among the founders and was one of the first lectors of St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church located on Route 206 in Hammonton. Vince was a past member and director of the Hammonton Kiwanis Club and held the distinction of being its 100th member. He actively participated in Kiwanis community service. He organized, advertised and conducted the “Bottles & Cans For Hamburger Fans” recyclables collection day, co-sponsored by the Hammonton Kiwanis and the Hammonton McDonald’s restaurant. In 1971 and 1972, Vince was vice president of the Hammonton Chamber of Commerce when Jim Rodio was the organization’s president. Together, they created the Chamber of Commerce’s Nice Going Award, named for the catchphrase of Ralph Continisio, first recipient of that award, who always gave credit to others by shouting “Nice Going!” Vince served as president of the Hammonton Chamber of Commerce in 1973 and 1974. Vince supported the community through numerous other roles over many years. He was a director and vice chairman of the Atlantic County Economic Development Commission. He served as President of the Hammonton Public Library Board. From 1981 through 1987, Vince was a board member of the Hammonton Zoning Board of Adjustment, serving as chairman in 1986 and 1987. He was member of the Hammonton Planning Board for 2-1/2 years. Vince was a member of the South Jersey Statehood Committee in 1980. He was appointed in January 1982 to the Hammonton mayor’s Pinelands Review Panel.
Vince had a wide range of skills and interests. He was always busy. Over the years, he applied his broad knowledge of various construction trades as he rebuilt, remodeled, updated and added onto the old house in original Hammonton that was his home since 1961. Vince applied the farming experience of his youth in cultivating vegetables in oversized home gardens. He forayed into wine making. Vince also repurposed, built or remodeled the three buildings in Hammonton that served as his company’s offices over six decades as a Hammonton businessman. Vince enjoyed hunting waterfowl, upland game and deer. He was an especially avid duck hunter and a member of Ducks Unlimited. Vince enjoyed hunting for many years with his three sons, Vincent, Timothy and Christopher; brothers Joe, Dave and Bob; brother-in-law George Wilkens; nephew Steve Wilkens; and close friend Ferdie Rotellini. Vince’s article “Storm Warnings Were Up!”, published in the New Jersey Outdoors magazine November 1965 issue, describes an adventure involving himself, George and Ferdie during a too-daring duck hunt in a nor’easter. Vince enjoyed cooking his unique recipe for wild duck fricassee to create feasts for his family, hunting buddies and other friends.
Vince is survived by his wife of 67 years, Josephine (Zeitler); daughter Virginia O’Reilly and her husband Brian; three sons, Vincent, Timothy and Christopher (wife Debra); grandchildren, Elise Espeland, Gavin O’Reilly, Kristin Cavalucci (John), Dena Giannini, Lindsey Giannini (Brennan Poole) and Reese Giannini; and by great-grandchildren, Lars Espeland, Travis Cavalucci and Grayson Cavalucci. Vince also is survived by his dear friends Bishop Sherman R. John Pius Mosley, Deacon Paul Hood, Sister Violet Lamb, Sister Justine Keyes and Ismael Rodriquez-Perez.
Vince wrote a note a few years ago and asked that it be printed in The Hammonton Gazette: “When I was a youngster in grammar school, I believed that honesty was important to me and continued to practice that all my life. I want to thank all the wonderful people I met that helped me achieve that goal as a real estate broker.” A Requiem Mass and burial will be conducted privately. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in memory of Vincent Giannini to the Saints Peter and Paul Traditional Roman Catholic Church, Administration Offices, 545 South White Horse Pike, Hammonton, N.J. 08037.
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Arrangements made by Marinella Funeral Home.