William Strangio

Albuquerque, New Mexico. Dr. William Strangio died peacefully in his sleep; his once brilliant mind sadly diminished by dementia. Born in the Queens Borough of New York City, he was the third of six children of Anthony Strangio and Fiona Strangio (Macalister). He grew up and attended elementary school in Howard Beach, New York, before the family moved to the promised land of California in 1948. They followed in the footsteps of their cousins who had moved to the central valley in the 1920s and were active in the fruit packing and shipping industry in Stockton and Modesto. Settling in Hughson, California, the family farmed peaches for over 40 years in Hickman, California, and at the home place on Whitmore Avenue in Hughson, California.

Bill was active in Hughson schools, played in the school band, earned the rank of Eagle Scout, and lettered in football and wrestling at Hughson High School. He attended Modesto Jr. College and then Fresno State College, majoring in Engineering. While in college he participated in ROTC and was proudly commissioned as a Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corp. Bill always said that all those years of swamping peach boxes during the summers in Hughson prepared him well for Marine Boot Camp. He attended Marine Air Flight School in Pensacola, Florida, and was later stationed at Camp Pendleton in southern California.

Bill married Linda Wilbur of Waterford, California, whom he had known since high school. They moved from San Clemente, California, to San Jose, California, where Bill attended graduate school at San Jose State College, earning a Master's Degree before they moved to Saint Louis, Missouri, where Bill earned his Doctorate in Engineering at Washington University in 1968. He then was appointed as a Professor in the Engineering Department at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. Bill and Linda later moved to San Jose, California, where they raised their two children, Anne Marie, and Christopher. Bill developed a private engineering firm specializing in wastewater treatment. His firm designed and oversaw the construction of the wastewater treatment plant for the City of San Francisco.

Following retirement, Bill relocated to Corvallis, Oregon, where he took up painting between his world travels. He traveled to Europe 17 times, often focusing on Italy and Sicily, and came home each time more enchanted than the last trip. Besides his keen interests in travel, history, the Marine Corps, and painting, Bill was passionate about family. He did major work on his family history and genealogy. He found and befriended distant family members from all over the world. He looked forward to large family dinners most of all, and he delighted in a table full of good food surrounded by family.

Bill lived the final four years of his life in Albuquerque, NM, and benefited greatly from the devoted attention of his loving family.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Bob Strangio. He is survived by his daughter Dr. Anne Marie Strangio of Albuquerque, NM, son Christopher Strangio of San Jose, CA, daughters-in-law Sue Joiner and Karina Strangio, grandchildren Max Bode, Maya Bode, Blaze Strangio, and Melia Strangio. He is also survived by sister Joan Fisher and brother Dr. Don Strangio of Modesto, CA, brother Rich Strangio of San Felipe, Baja CA, brother Rod Strangio of Reno, NV, former spouse Linda Foster of Albuquerque, and many loving cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Donations in Bill's memory can be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or to First Congregational United Church of Christ, Albuquerque .

Semper Fi.