Return Of The Family Man

A businessman from the Windsor area, philanthropist and dedicated community and father, William Lombardo was a great man with a heart even bigger always larger than life. On March 27, he died peacefully in a hospital in his hometown.

Born in Windsor in 1930 to Regina and Angelo Lombardo, working class Italian immigrants, William received the name Secondo, indicating its position as the second of three children.

Like many young Canadians, Bill and his older brother, Bob, longed to leave behind old country traditions and embracing new beginning of their family. A photo-aging, taken at the bill was a little boy, announces the end of their divergent career - Angelo Lombardo poses in a Windsor Street with the two boys dressed in school uniform, looks proud and Bob wise, with books in hand, while its smaller and younger brothers and sisters seems pretty sad, clutching a toy shovel.

In early 1940, Bob had already left home, first as a soldier laboring, then medical school, before settling into a career as a doctor in Chicago. Like George Bailey of It's a Wonderful Life, the bill remained behind to help the family business. As a teenager, he joined the construction company of his father, then married Jina Innocent, his high school sweetheart. Shortly after, Bill Jr. was born, the first of six boys.

The bill has formed a partnership with his father in the mid 50s, A. Lombardo & Sons, but his father has never been much of a businessman, and soon transferred operations to him. For the next decade Bill has transformed the company's nascent Lombardo Construction, a leader of the local industry and the builder of several local facilities, including arenas, churches, office buildings and recreational complexes . It was an impressive sight in the 1960s, a large bearded man with strong arms like his famous cigars.

A successful businessman, Bill also became known for his great heart and determination to help the less fortunate. He gave generously to various charitable causes and nonprofit, and local churches and schools. Other times, he has organized large quantities of sand to be deposited on the track and well on the field of local schools.

In early 1970 the bill was already supporting the construction of the Brentwood Recovery Home, a project led by Father Paul Charbonneau, a family friend of long standing. It has helped to ensure that Brentwood received need building materials and other supplies.

Bill Lombardo and Jina has also begun to travel more frequently during this period, and soon fell in love with Spain. The couple took the expatriate dive in 1974, moving in the south of Spain with their three young boys. They have enjoyed years of adventure and wonder in that foreign country, offering the opportunity for their young son to live a completely different culture and way of life.

While in Spain, Bill and Jina Lombardo managed an Italian restaurant - The Fragatta - and some bars in Torremolinos, Bill led the good life. "I remember he was semi-retired and has grown his hair long," said Nico Osborne, a painter in Spain who attended the local high school with his son U.S.. "When he wore the color orange, terry Kimona, it almost looks like Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead." The years, Spain has lasted until the early 1980s when the family returned to Windsor. By mid-decade, Bill and Jina has created a summer home in Palm Springs, California, and became active in church and community members.

In the 1980s Bill Lombardo pulled another rabbit from his hat business. It took Peerless-Cascade Plastics, a small and struggling company, and as President and CEO finally transformed into an auto parts supplier in Ontario and Kentucky first minister. At its peak it employed over 300 people in Windso.