Gilbert "Gil" R. Stagnaro

Gilbert "Gil" Ray Stagnaro, 76 passed away Friday February 6, 2026. Gil was born March 29, 1949. Son to Late Betty Stagnaro and Step-son to late Edward "Bud" Stagnaro.

Cherished husband of 54 years to Mary Ann (nee Cline) Stagnaro. Loving Father to Russell (Lisa) Stagnaro and Holly Schiller (Stagnaro). Proud Grandfather to Kendra Stagnaro, Brooke Stagnaro, Isa Schiller and Paxxton Schiller.

Gil grew up in Anderson township with his Mom, Step-dad and three sisters: late Patti Aylor (Stagnaro) 2025, Cindy Tupman (Stagnaro) 2015 and Mary Stagnaro. He told many stories of working long, exhausting hours at the family boat harbor on the Ohio River with his Step-Dad Bud; building and maintaining docks and boat slips during the summer seasons during his teenage and young adult years.

Gil felt called to serve his country as a young man. Immediately after graduating from Anderson High School in 1967, he joined the Air Force ROTC in 1967 and used the GI Bill to enroll at the Indiana University College of Business where he would graduate in 1971. Soon after, he married the love of his life Mary on August 14 of the same year. He served stateside as a Lieutenant in the US AirForce 1972 - 1974 during the Vietnam War at Loring Air Force Base in Maine. He then worked in the banking business while attending law school for a short time before the call to serve beckoned once again. That call led Gil to become a firefighter by starting as a volunteer in 1975. He was part of the first paramedic class for Anderson Township in 1977. He held the title of Lieutenant for the Anderson Township Fire and EMS where he worked for 14 years. He served as public relations officer and often spoke to the news media outlets on and off scene for many years. Gil had to retire in 1988 after a back injury on the job that required major surgery.

During his retirement Gil served on the board of the Cincinnati Firefighters' Federal Credit Union and was a significant voice in the development and execution of the Anderson Township Firefighters Memorial.

With a lot of help from his friends and fellow firefighters including Pete Busse and Howard Workman, Gil restored a 1965 Pontiac GTO, a project that took many years and brought him even closer to his ATFD brothers. Gil also joined a classic car club and attended as many car shows and cruise-ins that he could. His work on the Ohio River as a young man inspired him in retirement to buy a boat-keeping his family close while relaxing and cruising up and down the river.

Gil took up both trap and skeet shooting, as well as target shooting pistols and rifles. He had hoped to be able to do these things more regularly in the past few years, but his struggles to stay healthy would unfortunately not allow it.

Gil was a passionate patriot and held First Responders very close to his heart. He is already deeply missed.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, February 10 from 5:00pm - 7:30pm at T.P. White & Sons Funeral Home 2050 Beechmont Ave,. Memorial service will be held on Wednesday, February 11th at 11:00am at Anderson Hills Christian Church 8119 Clough Pike.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made supporting the Anderson Township Firefighters Memorial to Anderson Firefighters Charitable Foundation (AFCF) 8 Historic Way, Batavia, OH 45103.