Accordionist and teacher Charles Nunzio, the last surviving founding member of the American Accordionists Association passed away on October 17, 2010.

A native of Cattafi, Italy, Charles immigrated to America at age eight in 1921. His family lived in Newark, New Jersey and in order to continue his accordion study with Frank Umbriaco in New York City, Charles and his father would travel for 2 hours every Sunday morning.

A well known composer, artist and teacher, his own advanced study was with Pietro Frosini. He would sub on radio programs for Pietro Deiro, Charles Magnante, Joe Biviano and Frosini. At one time in the 1930’s, Charles would do as many as 35 radio programs in a week, plus maintain his teaching schedule and evening appearances with orchestras.

In 1938 Charles Nunzio became a founding Board member of the American Accordionists Association along with Pietro Frosini, Abe Goldman, Sydney Dawson, Anthony Galla-Rini, Charles Magnante, Pietro Deiro, Gene Von Hallberg, Joe Biviano, John Gart, Sam Roland and Byron Streep.

A visitation and a memorial service will be held at Gallaway and Crane Funeral Home, 101 S. Finley Ave., Basking Ridge, NJ 07920.

The visitation will be Friday, Oct. 29, 2010, 5-7 p.m.
The memorial service will be Saturday, Oct. 30, 2010 at 11 a.m.

For directions or more information call the funeral home at 908-766-0250 or on their website:

http://gcfuneralhome.com/