Ricky Gallerno (Age 70)

Peacefully, surrounded by loving family, on Saturday, March 23, 2024, Ricky Gallerno passed away at the age of 70. Predeceased by his beloved parents William Francis (Bill) and Helen Jane (Curly) Gallerno. Cherished husband of Teresa. Loving father of William Thomas Andrew Gallerno, Ricky Alan Gallerno Jr. and his wife Fallon, Jennifer Denise Van Hooydonk and her husband John, and the late Michael John Gallerno. Treasured grandfather of Jonathan (Johnny) Gallerno and his partner Riley Philips, Michael (Mikey) Gallerno and his partner Abby Lima, Dominic (Domi) Gallerno, Louie Van Hooydonk, Charlotte Van Hooydonk, Neveah Wesley, Zoey Amaral, Carter Gallerno, and Savannah Gallerno, and great-grandfather of Kane Gallerno. Dear brother of Barb Haskell and her husband Jack, Linda Haskell and her husband the late Larry Shives, Brenda Archer and her husband the late John, Jane Bilyea and her husband Don, Tammy McGonigle and her husband Keith, Bessie Smith and her husband Lee, and the late William (Billy) Gallerno; brother-in-law Tyler Brown and his wife the late Sandy, and Tom Brown and his wife Shirley.

Special uncle to Liam and Gracie, and many other nieces and nephews. In his youth, Rick worked for his uncle Johnny Vaughn at Johnny Vaughn’s Fix It Shop, learning leather and upholstery repair along with show repair. Later, he worked in several canning factories in Chatham-Kent feeding cans to the conveyor belt. Rick went on to start his own yard clean up and scrap metal business. Later in life, he started his own shoe repair shop in Strathroy, Ontario. He found his calling when he became a support worker at Strathroy Residential Home and Parkhill Group Home; where he supported people who had a variety of medical and psychological disorders. Rick worked in leather as a hobby for the rest of his life. Rick was instrumental in the study of CMT and G.A.R.S, neuromuscular disease; he donated pieces of muscle tissue, tendon and nerve material from his body for research. Ultimately over the years, his donation has helped with various breakthroughs in the field of neuromuscular diseases; they continue to reproduce his tissues for research around the world and has had articles published in medical journals.

Family and friends will be received at Smith Funeral Home, 1576 London Line, Sarnia, on Tuesday, March 26, 2024 from 6pm to 9pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Benedict Catholic Church, 1011 Oak Ave, Sarnia, on Wednesday, March 27, 2024 at 11am. Interment to follow at St. Matthew’s Cemetery in Alvinston.

Sympathy may be expressed through donations to CMT Research or River City Vineyard (Homeless Shelter and Support Hub) (cheques only at the funeral home please). Memories and condolences may be sent online at smithfuneralhome.ca

Categorised in: Obituaries

This post was written by Blackburn Radio