Angelo “Ralph” Trozzolo, 80, a World War II veteran who had several careers including a 34-year tenure with Automatic Electric Co., now GTE, and a business making wooden lawn ornaments, died Wednesday, Jan. 3, in his Northbrook home of cancer. Born in southern Italy, Mr. Trozzolo immigrated to the United States with his family when he was 8 years old. Mr. Trozzolo grew up on the West Side near Racine Avenue and Taylor Street. After graduating from high school, Mr. Trozzolo worked in his parents’ grocery store, but a few weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbor he joined the Coast Guard, which was then part of the U.S. Navy. Mr. Trozzolo spent 20 months in the Pacific Theater, serving as a chief radioman on several ships. Mr. Trozzolo survived the sinking of two ships, during which he continued to transmit the ship’s location and later its SOS signals. For his valor, he received several decorations. When Mr. Trozzolo returned to the United States, he soon joined Automatic Electric Co. in Northlake, where he retired as manager of GTE practices around 1979. “He learned about radio and telephone technology and he was early in the explosion of technology back then,” said his son, Pasquale. He then accepted a consulting position with Bell Labs, continuing his pioneering ability to write highly complex technical documents in easy-to-understand terms. During this time he also assisted his wife, Gilda, in the development of G-Whiz variety store in Elmwood Park. After retiring from Bell Labs in the late 1980s, he and his wife moved to Northbrook, where he founded Papa Angelo’s, a manufacturer of handcrafted holiday yard art that has become popular in the North Shore. Mr. Trozzolo was also past chairman of St. Joseph of Bagheria Society and past adjutant general of the Italian American Veterans of World War II. Also surviving are his wife; three daughters, Francine DeBartolo, Barbara Walsh and Rita Ravenna; a brother, Anthony; 10 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Visitation will be from 3 to 9 p.m. Friday in Skaja-Terrace Funeral Home, 7812 N. Milwaukee Ave., Niles. Mass will be said at 10 a.m. Saturday in St. Norbert Catholic Church, 1809 Walters Ave., Northbrook.
