Silvio A. "Cheevo" Nardini

WINCHENDON – Silvio A. “Cheevo” Nardini, 88, formerly of 13 Mechanic Street, died peacefully Sunday morning, February 12th in Wachusett Manor Nursing Home, Gardner.

He was born in Winchendon on October 22, 1923, the son of the late Amato and Antonia (Guerra) Nardini and was a lifelong resident of Winchendon.

Cheevo was a 1942 graduate of Murdock High School, where he excelled in both football and baseball.   After graduation, he entered the United States Army engineers, serving with Patton’s 3rd Army in Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe during World War Two.  He achieved the rank of Tec 5 and was awarded the Good Conduct Medal and European African Eastern Theatre Campaign Ribbon.

Cheevo managed the COOP Grocery Store on Central Street and then owned and operated the former Food Ranch Grocery Store on Front Street with his late wife from 1963 to 1984.   Following his retirement, he drove a school bus van for several years.

Cheevo was an avid golfer and had won the Winchendon Country Club Men’s Golf Championship.  He was the first and was a longtime President of the Winchendon School Country Club Senior Golf Association, in which he won numerous Senior Championships. He was a member of the inaugural class inducted into the Murdock High School Athletic Hall of Fame.  Cheevo was a member of Eugene M. Connor Post #193 American Legion.  Besides golf, he was a fan of the New York Yankees and Green Bay Packers.  He owned every song, which Dean Martin ever recorded.  Cheevo was a fan of TV Westerns, such as Bonanza and Maverick.  He and his wife enjoyed dancing and were members of the Couples Club.  In his later years, he enjoyed his daily swim at the Clark Memorial and walking his dog.

His wife of 58 years, Anita J. (Lafleur) Nardini, died in 2010.  He leaves three children, Mark S. Nardini and his wife Crystal of Winchendon, Nina E. Nardini of Winchendon and Tina M. Lashua of Templeton; two grandchildren, Jonathan WS Lashua and Allison E. Lashua of Templeton.  Two brothers, Avan Nardini and Medio A. Nardini, predeceased him.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, February 16th at 10 AM in Stone-Ladeau Funeral Home, 343 Central Street, Winchendon.  Burial, with military honors, will follow in the Massachusetts Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery.

Calling hours in the funeral home are Wednesday, February 15th from 6 to 8 P.M. with a Legion Service at 7 P.M.

Memorial donations may be made to Murdock High School Alumni Scholarship Fund, care of Richard J. “Jack” Ladeau, 230 High Street, Winchendon, MA. 01475.

www.stone-ladeau.com

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