Purported to have been blessed by the Holy Mother, it stood for so much of what Augie's journey of faith was all about,…and he simply couldn't get enough of the blessing it was in his life.Īnd yes, this man of Sicilian heritage and old world traditions was truly a man of faith and devout in his beliefs. Following a guided hiking tour to the crest of a specific mountain there, Augie came upon a 40 foot cement cross that would ultimately become an inspiration that would draw him back to that mountaintop many times over. Yet of all the places they visited, it was their 1994 pilgrimage to Medjugorje (in the former Yugoslavia) that absolutely changed their hearts and lives. Together, Augie & Mary experienced a plethora of beautiful sights, wonderful cultures, and enjoyed a storehouse of treasured memories from the places and people they met along the way. After the kids were all grown and on their own, Augie & Mary made the decision to become world travelers and set their sights on points eastward with Spain being the first on a list that included the Caribbean, Greece, Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales,…and with extreme sentiment, the island of Sicily where they returned numerous times in their travels. Yet for all the strong work ethics Augie possessed, life wasn't all about working either. So with the invitation of his brother-in-law, Charlie, Augie took a position with Charlie's place of business, the Metro Vending Company. For most people, retirement involves a lot of freedom and release from the daily grind, but Augie just wasn't content by sitting around. It is there that he spent the bulk of his working years and exuded the utmost in dedicated service until his retirement in 1984. Ultimately, his career path changed when he decided to seek employment with the U.S. In his early years, Augie worked as a clerk for the Detroit Stove Company. And so it was that on October 10, 1953, (and fittingly in the place they met, Our Lady of Sorrows) Augie watched his bride take her walk down the aisle to the altar where the two became one and began their lives together in the eyes of family and friends alike. It would take quite a few more dances and eventual dating that would lead Augie to the wisest and most loving decision he ever made,…asking Mary to become his wife. On one fateful night, it was there that he met Mary Giacona,…the girl that set the spark ablaze. Some of that good took place out in the alleys by his home on Benson Street in Detroit where he and his mates would wile away the hours playing Alley Baseball.Īnother great memory of Augie's childhood years were those entertained of the many dances and parties enjoyed in the basement of Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in Detroit. His mother did all she could to make lemonade from lemons, and his memories were filled more with the good rather than the bad. He was a child of the great depression, yet you'd never know the heartache by looking into Augie's face. For the call to duty he so proudly served, we honor Augie's memory and valiance for standing in harm's way for the preservation of everything holy and human.įor this proud young man of Italian heritage, specifically Sicilian, Augustino held precious all of the traditions that were passed down to him by his loving parents. Augie was merely one of the souls God used save so many whose fate could have been very different,…if not for the bravery and sacrifices made for the lives of others, and that's exactly what a soldier does. With over 3 years served, the latter half of his assignment was spent in Austria as part of the 42nd Infantry Rainbow Division whose proudest moment was helping to liberate the Dachau Concentration Camp where countless lives were lost to the torment of the Nazi movement. With thanks and praise from a grateful nation, we pay homage to Augie for his service to our country during World War II as a soldier in the U.S. Augustino was born in Detroit, Michigan, son of the late Pietro Lombardo and the late Leonarda (nee: Calabro) Lombardo. Augustino "Augie" Lombardo, age 89 and longtime resident of Warren, Michigan, died Thursday, Novemat Henry Ford Macomb Hospital in Clinton Township, Michigan.