Eric Ghianni
2024-03-26
Eric Anthony Ghianni, age 74, of Nashville, Tennessee -- beloved husband, father, papa, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, cousin and friend -- died March 26, 2024, surrounded by his family. Eric was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, son of the late Em J. and Dorothy Ghianni.
He is survived by Ann Ghianni, his loving wife of 38 years. Other survivors include daughter and son-in-law Maria and Michael Ghianni-Wilkinson, and daughter and son-in-law Ana and Joshua Greer; grandsons Sabatino and Emilio Greer; brother and sister-in-law Tim and Suzanne Ghianni; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Neal and Cheri Davenport, Matt Davenport and Victoria Venier, Ginger and Vinny DeFillipo; and beloved nieces, nephews and cousins.
Family will receive friends beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 30, until the service time at 12 noon, at Woodlawn-Roesch-Patton Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 660 Thompson Lane, Nashville, Tennessee, 37204.
A graduate of Iowa State University, where he played football, Eric began his professional life as a graphic artist. He worked for several years at Comfortzone swimming-pool-heater manufacturer, was self employed as a graphic artist, before he decided he wanted to take his love of art to schoolchildren. Eric went back to school at Middle Tennessee State University and then became an art teacher at West Elementary School in Mount Juliet until he retired.
He was a lifelong artist in multiple media forms. He also enjoyed fixing and building things in his house and yard. An avid landscaper and vegetable farmer, he was proud of his accomplishments and creations. He also loved helping with outdoor tasks and landscaping with his daughters at their homes. Eric liked talking about history and about solving the world’s problems. He was always ready to raise a toast in someone’s honor. Eric was a kind man, but even he surprised himself and his family by how quickly and completely his grandsons captured his heart and filled his soul.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to an animal rescue of your choice in his honor. Eric was an avid lover of cats and was particularly fond of Nashville Humane Association where he adopted many of his animal friends.
He is survived by Ann Ghianni, his loving wife of 38 years. Other survivors include daughter and son-in-law Maria and Michael Ghianni-Wilkinson, and daughter and son-in-law Ana and Joshua Greer; grandsons Sabatino and Emilio Greer; brother and sister-in-law Tim and Suzanne Ghianni; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Neal and Cheri Davenport, Matt Davenport and Victoria Venier, Ginger and Vinny DeFillipo; and beloved nieces, nephews and cousins.
Family will receive friends beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 30, until the service time at 12 noon, at Woodlawn-Roesch-Patton Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 660 Thompson Lane, Nashville, Tennessee, 37204.
A graduate of Iowa State University, where he played football, Eric began his professional life as a graphic artist. He worked for several years at Comfortzone swimming-pool-heater manufacturer, was self employed as a graphic artist, before he decided he wanted to take his love of art to schoolchildren. Eric went back to school at Middle Tennessee State University and then became an art teacher at West Elementary School in Mount Juliet until he retired.
He was a lifelong artist in multiple media forms. He also enjoyed fixing and building things in his house and yard. An avid landscaper and vegetable farmer, he was proud of his accomplishments and creations. He also loved helping with outdoor tasks and landscaping with his daughters at their homes. Eric liked talking about history and about solving the world’s problems. He was always ready to raise a toast in someone’s honor. Eric was a kind man, but even he surprised himself and his family by how quickly and completely his grandsons captured his heart and filled his soul.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to an animal rescue of your choice in his honor. Eric was an avid lover of cats and was particularly fond of Nashville Humane Association where he adopted many of his animal friends.
Eric was an exceptionally strong and successful athlete at DHS, whom I remember for his prowess in football and wrestling. He was all-conference in both sports. After graduation, our fast-pitch softball team captained by Mark Gerstein [See my tribute above to Mark] was fortunate to be able to bring him aboard in midsummer as our catcher. He was a very intelligent, sympathetic and easygoing individual with a primary interest in artistic endeavors. Always fun to be around. I was glad to hear that he had joined the ranks of us who pursued a career in education.
tribute by Jonathan Neumark