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BOARDMAN -- Carl Anthony Nunziato, 87, of Boardman, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family.
Born on Dec. 19, 1938, in Youngstown's Smokey Hollow, Carl was the son of Thomas and Antoinette Candela Nunziato.
A 1956 graduate of The Rayen School, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, along with a teaching certificate from Youngstown State University in 1961, where he was enrolled in the ROTC program.
Upon graduation, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army.
In August of 1961, Carl married his high school sweetheart, Clorinda "Clara" J. Scarpine. Together, they shared more than 64 wonderful years of marriage.
Carl's military service included three tours of combat to Thailand and Vietnam. During his service, he earned many awards, including the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Air Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal with three Battle Stars, Aircraft Crew Gunner Wings, among others.
In November 1966, at Soui Da, Tay Nigh Province, Vietnam, Carl was severely wounded during a Viet Cong mortar attack on his unit. As a result of the attack, Carl suffered the loss of both legs. He spent nearly two years in Walter Reed Hospital before being honorably discharged from the Army in 1968 with the rank of Major.
Following his discharge, Carl enrolled in Case Western Reserve University School of Law, where he earned his Juris Doctorate degree in 1971. He spent his career as an attorney for Dollar Savings and Trust Company, Ohio Bank Corp., National City Bank and in private practice. He also received an Honorary Doctor of Law degree from Youngstown State University in 2008.
Outside of his military and private sector service, Carl was also a staunch disability advocate in the greater Mahoning Valley community. He co-founded the Youngstown Chapter of the Governor's Subcommittee for Barrier-Free Architecture, to construct wheelchair ramps for disabled personnel and also helped spearhead the statewide initiative for handicapped parking.
In the early 1990s, Carl was a vocal advocate in preventing the closure of Youngstown State University's ROTC program, and he also established an endowment fund providing $40,000 annually in scholarships for ROTC Cadets and military veterans. Along with two other fellow ROTC Alums, Carl led the effort to raise $1.4 million for the construction of the Veterans Resource Center on the campus of Youngstown State University, which opened in 2014 and serves over 300 veterans and military-connected students. In 2018, the Veterans Resource Center was renamed the Carl A. Nunziato Veterans Resource Center. In 2021, the Veterans Administration constructed a new, community-based outpatient clinic that replaced its former location, which Carl played a pivotal role in bringing to Youngstown in 1993. On April 30, 2022, this brand new and modernized outpatient clinic was dedicated as the Carl A. Nunziato Veterans Administration Clinic in recognition of Carl's contributions to the veterans community.
Carl was also a member of numerous Mahoning County, the state of Ohio and national charitable organizations that addressed the needs of veterans, the disabled and the underprivileged. Carl received numerous Civic Awards for his charity work.
Carl found joy in planting and tending to his fig trees, and he held deep admiration for the majesty of the American Bald Eagle.
Carl leaves behind his loving wife, Clara; his daughter, Elizabeth (Robert); his grandchildren, Maria and Philip; his brothers, Tom and Jerry (JoAnne); sisters-in-law, Janet and Lucille; brother-in-law, Victor; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends, who will cherish his memory.
Carl was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Ted; and sisters-in-law, Claudia and Theresa.
A funeral mass will be 11 a.m. Aug. 1, 2026, at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica, 343 Via Mt. Carmel, Youngstown, with the Very Rev. Monsignor John Zuraw, J.C.L., V.G., as celebrant.
There are no calling hours, and everyone is asked to meet directly at the church.
Burial will take place at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington D.C., at a later date. Arrangements have been entrusted to the professional care of Rossi & Santucci Funeral Home, 4221 Market St., Boardman.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made in Carl's name to Second Harvest Food Bank of Mahoning County or to Youngstown State University's Carl Nunziato ROTC Scholarship or the Carl Nunziato Veterans Resource Center Scholarship, both in care of the Youngstown State University Foundation, 655 Wick Ave., Youngstown, Ohio 44502. You may also give online at ysufoundation.org by clicking "Give Now" and following the prompts.
Family and friends may visit www.rossisantuccifh.com to view this obituary and share condolences with Carl's family.
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