Charles "Chuck" Vignale, BHS 1968September 2, 1950 - May 5, 2006
Chuck Vignale, 55, passed away May 5, 2006. He is survived by his wife,Cheryl; his mother Palma; daughter Leasa and son-in-law John Ireland; son Charlie and daughter-in-law, Cara; sons Chris, Paul, and Joey; brothers, Bob, Jim, "SISTER"-in-law Jeanette and Paul; brother-in-law Ed Riggs; grandchildchildren, Masison and Jackson; nieces, Trina, Stephanie, and Christina; nephews, Michael, John, and Jimmy; mother-in-law, Patricia Wilson, and many aunts and uncles and cousins; father-in-law and mother-in-law Doug and Pat Fischer. He was preceded in death by his father, Louis and brother, Joseph.
Chuck was born September 2, 1950 in Pittsburgh, PA.. His parents and brother moved to Burbank, California in 1956. Chuck gradusted from Burbank High School in 1968. He moved to Las Vegas in 1977 and became a poker dealer. He met his soon-to-become wife, Cheryl and they relocated to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho in 1985.
Chuck loved telling poker stories, boating, softball, and doing odd jobs around the house. He was a creative golfer with his son Charlie. Most of all he loved keeping his family, friends, and co-workers at Thorco, Inc., laughing. He liked to use phrases from movies he watched, " John has a long mustache". "Never The Luck", "Death Cames Unexpectedly" and "How You Doin" and many quoates from his favorite movie "Get Shorty". He was loved and admired by all and will be sorely missed.
Memorial services will be at 1 p.m. May 10 at English Funeral Chapel, Coeur d'Alene.
For the Love of the gameBefore his dad passed away, Chris and Chuck Vignale experienced the Steelers' Super Bowl win together
According to Chris Vignale, freshman journalism major, the Pittsburgh Steelers were destined to win the 2006 Super Bowl. And his father, Chuck, a dedicated Pittsburgh fan diagnosed with brain cancer, lived long enough to watch them do just that.
In 2001, during Chris' seventh grade year, his father was first diagnosed. He had surgery immediately and breezed through a speedy recovery, Chris said. They thought he had it licked. But in May, 2005, it came back. After radiation and chemotherapy, however, things were looking good by August.
Unfortunately, the cancer returned in January, and that is when doctors said Chuck had three to five months to live. Chris, a junior at Lake City High School at the time, went outside and cried in the rain when he heard the news."I didn't know what to do, so I went to my friend's house, " Chris said. "I didn't sleep that night. "He stayed in school because he knew his dad wanted him to."It was tough. I wanted to spend as much time with him as I could, " Chris said.
When the Steelers beat the Indianapolis Colts in a way no one thought possible, Chris told his dad the Steelers were going to win the Super Bowl. During the game, Chuck got out of his chair and rooted for his team, something that was getting harder to do as time went on.
By early February when the Super Bowl came around, his dad had lost his strength and couldn't get out of his chair. They decorated the house, Steelers-style, in spite of all their Seahawks-fan friends. Pittsburgh went on to win Super Bowl XL."The best thing was, at the end of the game, my brothers and I held him on our shoulders while the Steelers got their trophy, " Chris said. "He had tears in his eyes. I turned around and told him, 'Dad, they won that for you. That was pure destiny, Dad, I love watching sports with you. '"
It was the last Steelers game they would watch together as Chuck died in May."It was my first day of work at Chile's. I remember hitting my hand on a brick wall, kicking my backpack and throwing my shirt. I don't think I can ever forgive myself for not being there with him, " Chris said.
He attended the senior ball the next night with a good friend, and graduated with the rest of his class in June."Everyone was real supportive. I wish my dad could have been there, " he said.
He spent a week with his sister in Los Angeles and went to a few Lakers basketball games thanks to a media pass."That's what got me hooked into journalism, " Chris said.
He takes 13 credits at NIC, while coaching eighth grade boys' basketball at Woodland Middle School and freshman baseball. He started coaching basketball six years ago and does not get paid. He enjoys working with the kids and being a positive male role model."I've learned that anything can come up at anytime, " Chris said. "You only have so much time, and it's best to use it wisely. "Chris continues to watch football and brings out the "Terrible Towel, " a yellow rag that Pittsburgh fans wave during gameday, for his dad every time the Steelers play.
No comments:
Post a Comment