Renato Lino Alessandro Gasi of Boynton Beach, FL passed away on Friday, May 27, 2022, at the age of 91.  After two months of declining health from seizures and falls while in the care of his daughter, Isabella, and her supportive husband, Walter, Renato died peacefully in a nearby hospital’s hospice ward.   

Renato was born in Florence, Italy on October 23, 1930, to father Alfredo Gasi, a marble merchant, and mother Vittorina (Mima) Caglieri, a skilled artisan.  The oldest of two children, Renato survived his sister, Anna, for 4 decades.  

At age 23 during college, he became a passionate baseball player.  From 1950-1954 he was publicized on the Ambrosiana and Inter teams’ national playoffs where he played in the field as well as catcher.  His love of sports grew and was well established throughout his life with soccer and baseball games being a dedicated weekly interest.  

His choice of career path was predicated by the demanding evolution in the field of science and so he chose chemistry as his major.  

In 1955 he graduated from the University of Pavia, Italy in the field of chemistry.  He enlisted in the Italian armed forces, the Bersaglieri, where he served for two years, and in 1957 became Lieutenant at 3rd Regiment Bersaglieri “Centauro” Armored Division Novara.  

He then became employed with Edison Chemical of Milan, Italy as Chemical Engineer where he had frequent business trips abroad.  He loved to party and break bread in good company wherever travels took him.  Most important was a visit to Morocco and Tunisia in 1958.  

On October 18th, 1958, he met a beautiful 17 year old French lady, Christiane, who became his sweet wife of 40 years and mother of his two children, Isabella and Gabriella.  They married on October 29th, 1959 and moved to America where his job had transferred him soon after.  

In the mid 1960s Renato was reassigned to Italy and so his career would have him transfer every few years to Milano and back to New York.  Life was great as he enjoyed business trips that took him to Africa and the Middle East as well as Europe.   

In 1972 Christiane’s health took a turn for the worse when she was diagnosed with a severe cardiomyopathy, followed by her 1st open heart surgery.  In 1981 he established his own business, Federal Chemical Industries, with a friend-associate trading in chemicals – and business was very good.  

He became a grandfather in 1982 to his 1st and only grandson, Christopher, and in 1983 his only granddaughter, Cybele.  He became a great-grandfather in 2013.

On September 18, 1999, his beloved life partner, Christiane, “left him forever and flew to Paradise.”  Adding to this deep sorrow, his second daughter departed on May 21, 2002, also due to a heart condition.  His two big loves left a huge hole in his life, and so at age 72 he was especially comforted by his grandson who lived with him for several years.  They moved from the Hamptons in NY to Boynton Beach, FL in 2004, where Renato resided until his health suddenly declined in March 2022.

He outlived his own mother’s long life of 90 years.  On June 8th, 2022 a Catholic Memorial Service where his ashes were blessed was held at his parish attended by loving friends and family.  The ceremonial spreading of his remains will take place off the shores of San Francisco in January 2023 escorted by his immediate family.  A small part of his ashes rests in the waters of his last residence, the Tuscany on the Intracoastal, where he lived in gratitude for his many blessings.

This spunky Italian man was filled with “Joie de Vivre” at every opportunity he had to travel and explore new lands, customs and people.  And of course, his passion for Italian cooking and sharing a meal with others even at his advanced age, was a marvel to witness. He’s remembered as a well-read man having a life-long love affair with the study of world history.  Whether discussing a geo-political topic, or reveling in the character and impetus of great world leaders and the regions they ruled, all made for very stimulating conversation that profoundly fascinated him throughout his life.  

A predominant part of his weekly routine was watching sports with a keenness for soccer and baseball.  He was a tremendous fan of these sports throughout his life.  The kind of person that percolates with enthusiasm during a game and whispers blasphemes in the aftermath whenever disappointed.

And lastly, his faith and devotion to God and the Catholic church which he religiously attended was an unwavering commitment that defined his spiritual journey and rooted him with compassion for others.  The one thing that he’ll be especially missed for is his daily sense of humor that often surfaced when challenges arose – he’d always find a way to bring a bright smile or an appreciated moment of laughter to a gloomy passage in one’s day.  

Renato was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Christiane, and his youngest daughter, Gabriella.  Every year he would buy them a bouquet of flowers on special days and set them next to their portraits in his living space as he kept their memories near his heart, never to be forgotten.  He is survived by his eldest daughter, Isabella Ryan; grandchildren Christopher Redman and Cybele McGazi; and great-granddaughters Lola McGazi and Sophia Redman, and his great-grandson Gabriel McGazi.  

A devoted family man and highly regarded father and grandfather, Renato emanated a great love and affection for his family, whether they were alive or departed.