Felix Anthony Cioffi's Obituary
Felix Anthony Cioffi, 91, of Fredericksburg, passed away Friday, 30 December 2016,
at Mary Washington Hospital.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, on 24 September 1925, to John and Rose Cioffi, Felice
(“fe-LEE-che”) Anthony Cioffi grew up with his five brothers and four sisters, of
whom only Gloria survives. He and his brothers all served in the military. Felix
served two years during the Korean War as a cadre in the Medical Replacement
Training Center and Leadership School, enabling his subsequent schooling under
the G.I. Bill.
While working full-time jobs, Felix completed eight years of night school at the
Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn, from which he received the degree of Bachelor of
Aeronautical Engineering. He was the only one of the Cioffi siblings to go to
college.
After graduating, Felix found employment as a design engineer and then as a wind
tunnel test facility supervisor on advanced aerospace concepts, such as scramjet and
hypersonic combustion tunnels at General Applied Science Laboratories in
Westbury, New York. Felix also worked for a short while at Republic Aviation
Corporation, flying in November 1969 with the Zero-G crew, which included
several astronauts. Employing his degree in the field he loved was a hard-won
experience he treasured.
At 20, Felix met the love of his life, Millie, at her sweet 16 party. Known
affectionately as Millie and Fillie, they were married five years later on 23 December
1950, remaining together 59 years until her death in 2010 after a 10-year struggle
with Alzheimer's Disease. Felix was her primary caregiver throughout her illness,
providing constant care at home. This obituary derives much of its content from his
recent book, Alzheimer's: The Decline of Millie, self-published through Amazon.
Religion was integral to Felix; throughout his house were tokens of Catholicism. But
he rarely spoke of it, resulting in a silent dignity that welcomed those of other
faiths.
Felix is survived by his son Denis Cioffi and his wife Ellen Hornstein, his daughter
Regina DiLavore and her husband Phil, and four grandchildren, Marc, Eric, Emma,
and Tommy.
The family will receive relatives and friends from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 to 9:00
p.m. on Wednesday, 4 January, at Found and Sons Funeral Home, 10719 Courthouse
Road, Fredericksburg. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. on
Thursday, 5 January, at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church, with Father Paul Eversole
officiating. Interment will follow at Quantico National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, Felix’s family requests that donations be made in memory of Felix and
Mildred Cioffi to the Alzheimer’s Association, 2217 Princess Anne Street, #106-1F,
Fredericksburg, Virginia 22401.
Felix was a great man — extraordinarily kind, warm, and generous, he made all his
in-laws feel part of his immediate family. Felice, both the Italian form of Felix and
the word for “happy,” was an apt name for this person who brought good cheer and
love to so many.
What’s your fondest memory of Felix?
What’s a lesson you learned from Felix?
Share a story where Felix's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Felix you’ll never forget.
How did Felix make you smile?
