MIKE D’AUGELLI

Mike D’Augelli, 96, of Chico passed away tranquilly on August 1st, 2022, at California Park Rehabilitation Hospital. He took his last breath at the end of visiting hours, with his wife of 75 years, Marie his son, Greg, daughter-in-law, Barbara at his side. Marie was recovering from a hip replacement there, and they were able to share a room.

A few weeks earlier, Mike was still at home using his walker and making oatmeal in the morning. His stoic and peaceful nature was ever-apparent as his body lost strength, through a spell at Enloe Medical Center and then 5 days at California Park.

Mike was born in Aurora, Illinois, on either March 9th or April 9th, 1926, depending if you believe military records or family history–the last few years of his life, the family celebrated both birthdays!

His parents, Angelo D’Augelli and Jenny Belmonte, were Italian immigrants. Jenny died when he was only 5, and his dad continued raising him and his brother, Nick, through the depression.

Then, to quote a high school history essay his granddaughter interviewed Mike for, in 1941 “his dad decided that because of the horrible weather and his in-laws they should get away.” They moved to Oakland, California, where Mike worked at a cannery and graduated from Castlemont High School.

He was drafted into the army in 1944, shipping out as a rifleman to fight in the Battle of the Bulge. Alongside the appalling experiences and sights he spoke of, highlights of Mike’s time in the army (F/376 of the 94th Division) included a pep talk by

General George S. Patton, seeing Bob Hope perform, and going with a friend on a joyride on a motorcycle and sidecar. He was on guard duty for the Nuremberg Trials, and regularly reminded the family with colorful language how terrible the Nazis were. On the flip side, the people warring against each other weren’t even always enemies; his son, Michael, remembers a story of American soldiers standing and staring at other troops during the day while at war but going dancing with the girls side-by-side at night.

After being discharged in July 1946, Mike returned to Oakland. He met Marie Patton soon after; she was playing tennis at Elmhurst Park on the corner

of 98th Ave and C St, where he and his friends hung out. They were married in 1947 in a quiet ceremony with immediate family at Reno City Hall. As Mike adjusted to being home, he spent 2 years at UC Berkeley for business college in accounting, working nights at a post office. Mike became a buyer in private industry and then a buyer for the San Lorenzo Unified School District. They raised 3 children, Michael, Gregory, and Vincent, moving to San Leandro in 1957 and retiring in 1991.

After moving to Chico in 1993 to be close to Greg, Barbara, and grandkids, Mike and Marie had returned to the Bay Area to visit. They were taking a

walk when Mike complained of discomfort, and he was rushed to San Francisco to undergo a triplebypass surgery. He ended up savoring decades more of life. Over years of traveling, Mike and Marie enjoyed visiting many places, including Mexico, Hawaii, England, Germany, and France.

Both Marie and his son Michael told stories of him always meeting people he knew, like when Mike and Marie were visiting Michael in New York; they were walking down the street when a guy yelled out, “Mike D’Augelli, how you doing?” It was a salesman he used to do business with in California, someone who gave his kids Christmas presents.

Mike spent many of his days in Chico swimming and relaxing in a hot tub; he was a member of two clubs over the years, Chico Sports Club and North Valley Athletic Club. At home, he took care of the dishes, a property with many fruit trees, looking out the window, and watching big band music and boxing on YouTube. Wanting his quiet, he wouldn’t consider getting hearing aids in his later years.

Mike is survived by his wife, Marie; sons Michael (Robert), Gregory (Barbara), and Vincent (Susan); grandchildren Mia Bella (Eric) and Angelo; and great-grandchildren Aurora, Anjellí, Aisilyn, and Talia. He was predeceased by two granddaughters, Willow and Dulciana, and his brother Nicholas.

To donate in his memory, consider a charity of your choice or the Wounded Warrior Project. Mike’s advice for the kids today: “get a good education, keep

an open mind, and choose friends wisely.” Thank you for 96 beautiful years, and see you on the 2nd Tuesday of next week, Pop!