THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, February 12, 1996 TAG: 9602120019
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B4 EDITION: FINAL
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Short : 50 lines
Retired Commander Orazio ``Si'' Simonelli, USN, age 79, of the 4000 block of Swaine Court, Virginia Beach, died at his residence on Feb. 10, 1996.
He was born May 31, 1916, in Portland, Ore., and was the son of the late Adolfo and Virginia Capitani Simonelli. He was the loving husband of Roma O'Quinn Simonelli. He was retired from the U.S. Navy after 27 years of service and the rank of commander.
Cmdr. Simonelli was a graduate of the University of Portland with a B.S. degree in physics and of the U.S. Naval P.G. School with a B.S. degree in electronics. Other noteworthy educational achievements included studies in contract law at the University of Virginia, management and industrial engineering, fundamentals of jet engine operation, organization for national security, introduction to space technology, and special weapons orientation course (NU)70.
Cmdr. Simonelli was a member of the ``Black Cats'' Squadron in World War II and flew ``PBYs.'' He was highly decorated during his 27 years in the Navy, receiving the Navy Cross, Air Medal with two stars, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two stars, World War II Victory Medal, National Defense Service Medal 1st and 2nd Award, and Presidential Unit Citation with star.
Besides his wife, he is survived by a son, Bryan Simonelli and his wife, Jeanne Simonelli, of Virginia Beach; two daughters, Susan Simonelli Crockett and her husband, Thomas Crockett Jr., of Richmond, and Kathy Simonelli Robertson and her husband, Jim Robertson, of Virginia Beach; a brother, Romeo Simonelli and his wife, Mary Lou Simonelli, of Ocean Park, Wash.; three sisters, Viola O'Donnell and her husband, Pat O'Donnell, of Ventura, Calif., Italia Morris of Portland, Ore., and Anita Tarbet and her husband, George Tarbet, of Hacienda Heights, Calif.; and five grandchildren, Trey, Jonathan, Katie, Scott and Alexis.
Entombment funeral services will be held Tuesday, Feb. 13, at 11 a.m. in Good Shepherd Mausoleum in Rosewood Memorial Park, with the Rev. Warren Wilson officiating. Full military honors will be accorded at the mausoleum. The family will receive friends this evening from 7 to 8 p.m. in the Jefferson Room of Kellum Funeral Home, Rosewood Chapel, and other times at the residence on Swaine Court, Virginia Beach. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.
KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY
by CNB