Larry J. Gambaiani, 82, of Rockville, Indiana passed away Friday, March 1, 2024, at Gibson Family Center for Hospice Care in Terre Haute.
He retired from public education with 50 years of service and served 20 years on the Parke County Council.
He was born August 25, 1941, in Clinton, Indiana to the late Victor Gambaiani and Delena Perona Gambaiani.
Survivors include his wife, Helen Edington Gambaiani whom he married August 8, 1964; son, Tony (Diana) Gambaiani of Columbus; daughter, Gina (Brad) Titus of Terre Haute; brothers, John Gambaiani of Westerville, Ohio and Jim Gambaiani of Fort Myers, Florida; four grandchildren, Michael Anthony, Mia Delena, Trent Nickolas, and Whitney Louise; several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a son, Nickolas J. Gambaiani on March 3, 2005.
Larry began his teaching career at Rockville High School. He obtained his master’s degree from ISU in 1967 and left the classroom in 1973 to become assistant principal. In 1974 he became principal of Rockville Junior/Senior High School. He began working on his Education Specialist degree at ISU and in 1976 accepted the position of Superintendent of Rockville Community Schools. At the age of 34 he was the youngest superintendent in the state of Indiana. He would later receive his doctorate degree from Indiana University. He was elected and served on the board of the Indiana High School Athletic Association and served as board chairman from 1989-1990. In 1991 he joined the staff of MSD of Washington Township in Indianapolis as assistant superintendent retiring in 2001.He also served in a position at the Bayh School of Education at ISU helping graduate students to become principals and superintendents. He served as a communication liaison for Indiana Educational Service Centers. Larry has received multiple awards during his career in education including Outstanding Young Hoosier award 1976 by Indiana Jaycees; the Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents retirement award in 2001 for 15 years of service; special recognition for the contribution and distinguished service from the Indiana High School Athletic Association; a recognition from the Department of Education Leadership at Indiana State University for 50 years in public education; and the State’s highest award, Sagamore of the Wabash in 2001 by then Governor Frank Y. O’Bannon. Recently the Indiana Association of Public-School Superintendents Distinguished Service Award Committee selected him for the 2020 award. He was an active member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and a member of the Rockville Rotary Club, Rockville Elks Lodge #2471and was past chair of the Parke County Community Foundation. He was an avid sports fan of the Chicago Cubs, Indiana Hoosiers and ISU Sycamores.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 am Thursday March 7, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 201 E. Ohio Street, Rockville, with Father Joby Puthussery officiating. Burial will follow at Memory Garden Cemetery in Rockville. Visitation will be from 2-8 pm Wednesday at St. Joseph Catholic Church.
Memorials should friends so desire, may be made to Indiana Special Olympics, 6200 Technology Center Drive, Suite 105, Indianapolis, IN 46278 or Parke County Community Foundation, PO Box 276, Rockville, IN 47872 in his memory.
Arrangements entrusted to the care of Gooch Funeral Home, Rockville.
Online condolences may be shard at www.goochfuneralhome.com.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Larry, please visit our floral store.
|
Robert Baxter (1965)
Mr. Gambaiani was one of a team of new teachers and coaches our senior year. Always upbeat and encouraging, he was an inspiration throughout his long career in Education and Civic Activities. Rockville was fortunate to have him adopt us as his home.
Debbie Collet (Frazier) (1971)
He was an outstanding teacher. He taught me bookkeeping, typing, & shorthand when I was in high school. I learned so much from him. He will be missed a lot!