Osvaldo A Gonin

On Wednesday, November 23, 2022, Osvaldo Augusto Gonin, loving husband and father of three children, passed away at the age of 93. Osvaldo was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina on February 11, 1929 to Juan Gonin and Conradina Sartor. He first came to the United States working as a Purser aboard merchant ships. Osvaldo sailed the world while in the Merchant Marine. He emigrated in the 1950’s, married, and proudly served two years in the US Army (Oct 1957- Oct 1959) at Fort Dix, New Jersey. He became a US Citizen on January 15, 1962.

During his early career, while he and his wife Jeannette were raising their three children in the Bronx, NY, Osvaldo had a variety of factory and sales jobs in Manhattan. He finally settled into a lengthy tenure with the American Chain and Cable Company in Industrial Instrumentation sales, advancing to the position of International Sales Manager. Speaking 5 languages, he covered international sales across South America and occasionally Asia. He later covered the Southeast US out of Greenville, South Carolina. While in Greenville he took up clock repair as a hobby.

Osvaldo became a golf coach in the Special Olympics in 1992 and an alpine skiing coach in 1994. He was active for years and spent many hours leading and coaching special needs athletes in the New York Special Olympics golf and ski programs. This included events at Winged Foot Golf Club and Ski resorts all over New York state.

In 1995, Osvaldo, Jeannette and daughter Alison moved from the Bronx to Yorktown Heights, NY. Following their son Daniel, his wife Susan and their children, he enjoyed spending time with family and doing activities with his granddaughters.

A few years after his battle with cancer in 2002, Osvaldo, Jeannette, and Alison moved to Pawcatuck, CT to live with his daughter Irene, her husband Jay and their children. Osvaldo began selling jewelry and other collectibles at local flea markets. After a few years he rented a space at the Velvet Mill in Stonington, CT called “Ozzy G’s Collectables”. There he met new friends, continued to sell collectables, and began a more formal clock repair business. Even at 93 he was still going to his shop on weekends.

Osvaldo was a kind, intelligent, and caring person. He always had a kind word and interesting story to tell. Everyone felt right at home in his presence. He lovingly cared for his wife during her 15 years of dementia. He was the rock of the family until the very end. He will be missed.

Osvaldo was predeceased by his wife Jeannette and is survived by son Daniel (m. Susan Buckenberger), daughters Irene (m. Joseph Spalding) and Alison and grandchildren Amanda, Gabrielle, Jaqueline, Lisa and Evan.

Funeral service will be held on Wednesday November 30, 2022 at 1:00 PM at the Buckler-Johnston Funeral Home, 121 Main St. Westerly, RI. Burial will follow in River Bend Cemetery, Beach St. Westerly.

In Lieu of flowers please make a donation to the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center.

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