Born in Sarzana, Italy to Oreste Armelo and Doris (Micheli) Bagnoni. Mr. Bagnoni's first job after graduating from Technical High School was as a guitarist and vocalist with a band. He enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard in 1942 and reached the rank of petty officer third class. In 1944 he married Jane King and together they raised six children. In 1945 Mr. Bagnoni gave up the musician's life on the road.
In 1949 Mr. Bagnoni joined the Erie Bureau of Police. He retired from the Police Department in 1971 as the deputy chief of detectives. He worked in security for Gannon University for 21 years, retiring as director of security.
Perhaps Mr. Bagnoni's greatest legacy was as a politician. He ran twice, unsuccessfully, for Mayor of Erie. He served on city council for 32 years (8 terms) and was elected council president five times. He frequently returned his salary to the council or donated it to charity. He prided himself on being a "man of the people" and his listed telephone number allowed citizens to call him at any time with concerns or complaints that he would do his best to address.
A section of a downtown Erie street was designated "Mario Bagnoni Way" in his honor in 2004.
Preceded in death by his wife in 1997 and his son, Stephen in 1968. He is survived by sons David, Dannie and Dean and daughters Linda and Kathy.
In June, 2005 Mr. Bagnoni was hospitalized. In August he told his family that he wanted no more aggressive medical treatment. City Council honored Mr. Bagnoni by naming him Mayor for a day.
Mr. Bagnoni was once quoted as saying, "I'm just happy I was able to help. I never cared what people thought of me personally. I always said that, as long as I did what I thought was right, and as long as my wife and kids love me, my conscience is clear."
In 1949 Mr. Bagnoni joined the Erie Bureau of Police. He retired from the Police Department in 1971 as the deputy chief of detectives. He worked in security for Gannon University for 21 years, retiring as director of security.
Perhaps Mr. Bagnoni's greatest legacy was as a politician. He ran twice, unsuccessfully, for Mayor of Erie. He served on city council for 32 years (8 terms) and was elected council president five times. He frequently returned his salary to the council or donated it to charity. He prided himself on being a "man of the people" and his listed telephone number allowed citizens to call him at any time with concerns or complaints that he would do his best to address.
A section of a downtown Erie street was designated "Mario Bagnoni Way" in his honor in 2004.
Preceded in death by his wife in 1997 and his son, Stephen in 1968. He is survived by sons David, Dannie and Dean and daughters Linda and Kathy.
In June, 2005 Mr. Bagnoni was hospitalized. In August he told his family that he wanted no more aggressive medical treatment. City Council honored Mr. Bagnoni by naming him Mayor for a day.
Mr. Bagnoni was once quoted as saying, "I'm just happy I was able to help. I never cared what people thought of me personally. I always said that, as long as I did what I thought was right, and as long as my wife and kids love me, my conscience is clear."
Born in Sarzana, Italy to Oreste Armelo and Doris (Micheli) Bagnoni. Mr. Bagnoni's first job after graduating from Technical High School was as a guitarist and vocalist with a band. He enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard in 1942 and reached the rank of petty officer third class. In 1944 he married Jane King and together they raised six children. In 1945 Mr. Bagnoni gave up the musician's life on the road.
In 1949 Mr. Bagnoni joined the Erie Bureau of Police. He retired from the Police Department in 1971 as the deputy chief of detectives. He worked in security for Gannon University for 21 years, retiring as director of security.
Perhaps Mr. Bagnoni's greatest legacy was as a politician. He ran twice, unsuccessfully, for Mayor of Erie. He served on city council for 32 years (8 terms) and was elected council president five times. He frequently returned his salary to the council or donated it to charity. He prided himself on being a "man of the people" and his listed telephone number allowed citizens to call him at any time with concerns or complaints that he would do his best to address.
A section of a downtown Erie street was designated "Mario Bagnoni Way" in his honor in 2004.
Preceded in death by his wife in 1997 and his son, Stephen in 1968. He is survived by sons David, Dannie and Dean and daughters Linda and Kathy.
In June, 2005 Mr. Bagnoni was hospitalized. In August he told his family that he wanted no more aggressive medical treatment. City Council honored Mr. Bagnoni by naming him Mayor for a day.
Mr. Bagnoni was once quoted as saying, "I'm just happy I was able to help. I never cared what people thought of me personally. I always said that, as long as I did what I thought was right, and as long as my wife and kids love me, my conscience is clear."
In 1949 Mr. Bagnoni joined the Erie Bureau of Police. He retired from the Police Department in 1971 as the deputy chief of detectives. He worked in security for Gannon University for 21 years, retiring as director of security.
Perhaps Mr. Bagnoni's greatest legacy was as a politician. He ran twice, unsuccessfully, for Mayor of Erie. He served on city council for 32 years (8 terms) and was elected council president five times. He frequently returned his salary to the council or donated it to charity. He prided himself on being a "man of the people" and his listed telephone number allowed citizens to call him at any time with concerns or complaints that he would do his best to address.
A section of a downtown Erie street was designated "Mario Bagnoni Way" in his honor in 2004.
Preceded in death by his wife in 1997 and his son, Stephen in 1968. He is survived by sons David, Dannie and Dean and daughters Linda and Kathy.
In June, 2005 Mr. Bagnoni was hospitalized. In August he told his family that he wanted no more aggressive medical treatment. City Council honored Mr. Bagnoni by naming him Mayor for a day.
Mr. Bagnoni was once quoted as saying, "I'm just happy I was able to help. I never cared what people thought of me personally. I always said that, as long as I did what I thought was right, and as long as my wife and kids love me, my conscience is clear."
