Angelo D. Chiarot
May 16, 1923 – Jan. 22, 2021

Beloved patriarch, veteran and friend, Angelo Domenico Chiarot, 97, passed into the loving arms of Our Savior on Jan. 22. Born in Winnipeg, Canada to Italian immigrants Guiseppe and Antonietta (nee Sellan) on May 16, 1923, Angelo spent the bulk of his life in Los Angeles County.

His teen years ended with the onset of World War II when he enlisted on Dec. 9, 1942. He proudly served in the United States Navy as watertender, second class, deployed on the Tacoma-class patrol frigate (PF-20) USS Gulfport USS Charlotte (PF-60), and destroyer the USS Balch (DD-363), among others, completing five trans-Atlantic convoy escort crossings to various North African ports until the end of the war.

Angelo retired from the Los Angeles County Fire Dept. where he served as a heavy equipment operator handling the large firefighting bulldozers and machinery on countless wildland fires and special projects throughout the years.

He is preceded in death by his devoted wife Stella (nee Cantacessi); parents; sister Vilma (Paneno); and brother Roy. He is survived by sister-in-law Jeanne Chiarot; children John LaJeuness (Andrea); Jo Ann Stanton (Richard); and Kathleen Wood (Allen); multiple grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, nephews and nieces, including grand-niece Nichol Paneno, who lovingly cared for Angelo during his later years and days.  

Angleo is remembered for his love of music, dancing, horses, Westerns, all-things Italian and the Montrose Christmas Parade. He embodied for many the Los Angeles culture of The Greatest Generation with stories of dancing at The Palladium and observing Ascot racing from “the hill.” For years, he rode his horses daily after early morning meetings of The ROMEO (Retired Old Men Eating Out) Club at the Burger King (now Starbucks) on Foothill Boulevard.

His decades-long memberships in St. Peter’s Italian Church’s San Trifone Society and La Crescenta American Legion Post 288 additionally reflected his love of community, charity and faith. Always grateful for assistance and a snappy dresser, Angelo’s presence impacted those who knew him and those who met him. During American Legion memorials, bingos and meetings, Angelo humbly would say of his service, “We didn’t know we were doing anything special” as children would ask to take their picture with him.

To this, “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’” (Matthew: 25:23)

Rest in peace, our dear Angelo, and jitterbug! You will be missed, you are celebrated and, above all, you are eternally loved.

In lieu of flowers any donation to the American Legion would be greatly appreciated. Checks can be mailed to P.O. Box 223, Montrose, CA 91021.