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Edward M. Digneo died at home on Wednesday afternoon, May 8, 2007. He was 94. His loving wife, Stella Ellen Blanchard Digneo, preceded him in death in 2001. The most cherished 42 years of his life were with her. Edward is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Bernadette Marie Digneo and Bill Gould; son and daughter-in-law, Vincent Edward and Nicole Watson Digneo; his brother, Robert Digneo; cousin, Ralph Digneo; and many nieces and nephews. Edward was born in Santa Fe on January 24, 1913 to Americo and Margaret Berardinelli Digneo, whose descendants were commissioned to Santa Fe in the mid-1800s by Archbishop Lamy to architect, engineer, and build many local, historically registered buildings, including the St. Francis Cathedral Basilica. He graduated from St. Michael's College (high school), the George Washington University and the University of New Mexico as an undergraduate, and attended the University of California at Berkeley where he received a Master's Degree in Biological Sciences in 1941. Within months of graduation, Edward was given a commission into the United States Navy and reported to active duty 6 months prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor. He spent a short, and self-described "intense period" on assignment in Costa Rica as one of the Navy's first environmental biologists. He served the majority of World War II in the Pacific, most notably at Midway Island, and later as a Commander on the USS Kitty Hawk. After 21 years of service, Edward retired from active duty as a decorated Lieutenant Commander and spent a few years in the Naval Reserves. In his post-Naval career, Edward co-founded an oil and gas leasing firm which he operated until the late 1970s. Along with his colleagues, he sold the business to Standard Oil in 1978. A most revered and memorable occasion came in 1951. While in Italy, Edward had the privilege of attending a private audience with Pope Pius XI. His Holiness personally greeted Edward and his small group of traveling companions, which served as a defining moment in Edward's life. He was inspired to return to the United States to play a very active voluntary role in the St. Francis Catholic Community. In the early 1970s, he helped establish shelters and provide food and clothing for many of Santa Fe's homeless. He spent nearly 20 years in active volunteer service with the St. Vincent de Paul Society and as a eucharistic minister. From an early age, Edward had a passion for drawing and painting and was recognized locally as an accomplished and prolific artist. He had many friends throughout the Santa Fe artist community and continued to paint up to a few years before his death. A Rosary will be said at Berardinelli Mortuary on Sunday evening, May 13, 2007 at 7:00 with Funeral Mass at St. Francis Cathedral Basilica on Monday, May 14, 2007 10:00 a.m. A private burial of his ashes, along side his wife's, will be held on Tuesday morning at the National Cemetery in Santa Fe. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Carmelite Monastery, 49 Mt. Carmel Rd., Santa Fe, NM 87505 or St. Vincent de Paul, 213 Cathedral Pl., Santa Fe, NM 87501. Arrangements are under the direction of Berardinelli Family Funeral Services, 1399 Luisa Street, Santa Fe, NM, 87505. (505) 984-8600.
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