Restaurant founder dies: 'Once you met him, you knew him'

The life of a local restaurant founder with a big personality and even bigger family is being remembered.

Kettering resident Steve "Poppa G" Giallombardo, the co-founder of Geez Grill & Pub in Washington Twp.,  died Wednesday, March 29.  He was 89.

Giallombardo’s funeral is Saturday, April 1, the 22nd anniversary of his family’s restaurant.

"We are just thankful that we had him as long as we did,"  Nick Giallombardo said of his father. "Once you met him,  you knew him. Everybody knew Poppa G."

>> MORE: Sign Steve Giallombardo’s condolences page 

Nick Giallombardo, the second youngest of his parents’ nine kids, said his father was a hard worker who was all about family.

“Every Sunday was open house with a big spaghetti dinner,”  Nick Giallombardo said. “Anyone and anybody could come.”

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Steve Giallombardo, a lover of fast pitch softball, bowling and golf, served in the Navy during World War II.

“He was under (the guns) feeding the bullet to the gunners,” said Nick Giallombardo, noting how proud his father was to serve.

A graduate of Stivers High School, Giallombardo was the son of Andrew and Frances Giallombardo, immigrants from Palermo, Italy. 

He met his Maxine during a dance, their son said.

They met at a dance marathon,”  Steve Giallombardo said. “They were great dancers.”

The couple of 72 years had 26 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.

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Our Founders Steve & Maxine Giallombardo

Posted by Geez Grill & Pub on Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Steve Giallombardo worked for other flooring companies before launching his own Giallombardo Flooring in the late ‘60s or early ‘70s.

“He always said no one worked as hard as him,” Nick Giallombardo said.  If he is going to do all the work, why should he work for someone else?”

They opened Geez with their son Nick on April 1, 1994.

“Everybody said it was April Fool’s, but it was also Good Friday,” Nick Giallombardo said.

The family transformed what had been Longfellow’s Tavern, a bar that featured bands, to a sports bar and restaurant.

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Nick Giallombardo said his mom eventually worked her way into the kitchen with soup and specials.

“This was the commercial kitchen she needed with her kids,” Nick Giallombardo said.

Steve Giallombardo retired about 18 years ago after suffering a stroke.

His son said Geez remains a family business. Steve’s son is at the helm of the business and has been helped by an army of family members that includes sisters, nieces, nephews and great-nieces.

 Visitation for Giallombardo is 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at Southbrook Church, 9095 Washington Church Road.  It will be preceded by his funeral service and a private family burial.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Hospice of Dayton or the American Diabetes Association.

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