Michael Luongo
Michael Luongo died peacefully, surrounded by loving caregivers, on January 9, 2021, at Avery Garden, Jurupa Valley, CA. Diagnosed with dementia years ago, he died from COVID-19. Born March 22, 1930 in Orange, NJ to Carmela (Mildred) Spinelli and Dominic Luongo, Mike was predeceased by his wife and best friend, Peggy Nudd, his sister Rose Ann Sutton, and his brother, Anthony Luongo. He leaves behind his sister, Johanna LaVia and her children, Jay LaVia, Vernon LaVia, and Wendy LaVia Archer, and the children of his brother Anthony, Esther Luongo Psarakis, Claudia Luongo, David Luongo, Michael Luongo and Julia Luongo McArdle. Mike graduated from Jefferson High School in Elizabeth, NJ, attended Rutgers University on a full scholarship, and earned a BA in Engineering. He was a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army, and served his country in Korea. He moved to Pasadena, CA in 1957 and worked for Glassco Instrument Co. and Consolidated Electrodynamics Corp. while earning his MBA from UC-Irvine. He was a brilliant, innovative Mechanical Engineer driving the design of countless patented products. Mike founded a machine design and production business, A Plus Products, in which his wife, Peggy, helped him for over 25 years. They often travelled to Italy to import specialized machinery and loved “Bella Italia,” especially the small villages around Naples and Romethe home of his ancestors. Mike often said, “All you need in life is pasta, a glass of red wine and a slice of crusty Italian bread.” Mike was an “angel” to his second mother, Esther, and a “hero” to his sister, Johanna, as he inspired her to marry for love and follow her dream of becoming a teacher. His family will remember him as strong, intelligent, and generous. He is now at peace in a garden in Heaven with his wife, his memory, a bowl of pasta, some crusty Italian bread, and a glass of red wine.
