July 23, 1938 – December 23, 2022
Submitted by Charlie Baker
The funeral for Ross Gagliano was held in his hometown of Birmingham, Alabama on January 13, 2023.
Delayed by a tornado-filled weather front while driving up from Jacksonville, we arrived slightly late for the “Viewing and Rosary” at St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church. As soon as we walked through the front door and into a large crowd that filled the vestibule of the church, Ross’s grandson, 6’7” Zach Ricketts, stepped out of the crowd to greet us. Zach is a Captain in the 3rd Infantry “Old Guard” at Ft. Meyer. He quickly carried us over to his mom, Lisa Gagliano Ricketts. The Rosary was about to start, and we were able to work our way over to Ross’ oldest son James (“Jimmy”) before the crowd moved into the side chapel. Jimmy, as many of you may know, is a graduate of USMA Class of 1987 and went on to serve a long career with the FBI in New York. Zach is a 2007 graduate. West Point means a lot to the Gagliano Clan. Ross had eleven grandchildren – they must have all been there – and twelve great grandchildren, many of whom were there as well, including a couple of toddlers stealing the show.
The Rosary was a beautiful event, hosted by Jonathon, Ross’ youngest son. All the grandchildren took turns leading the Rosary prayers, with responses from everyone else. I was just plain stunned by the magnitude of the people that Ross and Dorothy had brought into this world. A wonderful kick off to this memorial to our great friend and classmate, Ross Gagliano.
#32 on the Plebe Basketball Team of 1956-57, and #1 in the hearts of everyone at St. Francis Xavier this day.
We met many of the family and friends following the Rosary, to include Ross’ two little brothers, Sam and Carl Gagliano. They had so much to say about Ross, their hero growing up and still today, along with his exploits on the basketball court at Phillips High School back in the ‘50s.
0900 hour the next morning, we were at Mass. 39 Degrees and breezy outside, but warm in St. Francis Xavier. A formal Mass in the Catholic tradition, but this one was punctuated by a most memorable eulogy given by Ross’ oldest child, Jimmy Gagliano. He captured the essence of Ross Gagliano, the Gagliano family, and how much Ross meant to them.
On to Elmwood Cemetery, huge and very cold. It was crowded under the tent, not unlike the “Ranger Glob” on the deck of the LST headed back from Santa Rosa Island so many years ago. Zach ran the ceremony, with the bugler and color sergeant from the Alabama National Guard rendering Taps beautifully, and both of them meeting a very high standard unfolding and refolding the flag. Capt. Zach presented the flag to Lisa on behalf of the United States, and the ceremony was over.
Back to the church for lunch, and the telling of some great stories. Told a couple myself. Ross’ horde of family members will remember this day throughout their lives, as will I.
