Submitted
Clemente Joseph Bianchi
Clemente Joseph Bianchi, 82, passed away peacefully on Sept. 25, 2024, with his wife of 61 years, Lenore, and his family by his side. Clem was born in Jersey City, New Jersey on July 3, 1942.
Clem loved baseball and his NY Yankees. He grew up playing baseball and pitched at Seton Hall University, where he earned his degree in Business.
As Vice President of Sier Bath Gear Company in New Jersey, he enjoyed working in the family business before moving his family to Killington, to follow his love of skiing. There, he started a wine distribution company, Killington Distributors. He was a wine connoisseur and loved educating himself and those around him about wine. Clem loved working with people and built an Employee Benefits Consulting practice while mentoring his son, Jim, to take it over before retiring.
In Killington, Clem and Lenore raised their children on the slopes, with Clem as a coach, racer, and instructor, continuing to enjoy skiing well into his 70s. He also shared his love for tennis as the Mount Saint Joseph Academy coach and tennis pro at The Summit Lodge. His zest for golf provided endless enjoyment with family and friends.
Clem’s musical talents flourished in the 1960s when he played guitar and sang in a band in New York City. For nearly 40 years, he and Lenore were fixtures at The Little White Church, Our Lady of the Mountains, ministering with their music and almost every Christmas organizing the ecumenical choir.
Family traditions revolved around Clem’s love of cooking, sharing the joy of family and friends with spaghetti and meatballs or mixed grill every Sunday night. His legendary Escarole soup was said to cure any ailment, and his storytelling always left his audience in stitches. Nights would end in family sing-alongs, with everyone encouraged to share in making music. He took great pride and joy in seeing his children and grandchildren carry on his musical legacy.
He loved working on his model trains—a hobby he shared with his brothers from a young age and continued throughout his life. Clem said all I need is Lenore, my family, and my trains. His sayings were given freely and often. If you were lucky enough to have a conversation with “The Clem” you would not forget it.
He is survived by his wife, Lenore, and five kids, EJ (Jennifer) Bianchi, Chris (Betsey) Bianchi, Terry (Jeff) Armistead, Jim (Carolyn) Bianchi, and Joe (Jenn) Bianchi. 17 Grandkids: Joseph, Stephen, Xander, Elle, Thea, Shay, John, Ryan, Megan, Luca, Cece, Evie, Sabrina, Christine, Heather, Michael, and Emily and five great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents, Edward Joseph Bianchi and Theresa (Renzo) Bianchi. He is survived by his siblings, Rosemary Fitzpatrick, Terry (Frank) Brennan, Helen (Harry) Rothgerber, Ed (Elinor Avery) Bianchi, John (Jo Ellen) Bianchi. He was predeceased by his brother-in-law, Alan Fitzpatrick. He leaves behind many nieces, nephews, and friends.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to his favorite charities, St. Jude’s at stjude.org or Tunnels to Towers at T2T.org.
The family would like to offer a special thank you to all the nurses and doctors at Rutland Regional Medical Center for the kindness, and loving care so freely given to Clem and their whole family.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Nov. 2, at Our Lady of the Mountains 4173 US 4, Killington. The reception will be at the Rutland Country Club at 1 p.m.
