David P. "Mike" Charello

David P. “Mike” Charello, 90, of South Kingstown, passed away Thursday morning, March 27th surrounded by his family. He was born in Lincoln, RI on July 20, 1934 to his loving parents Louis and Anna (Arruda) Charello. He was the devoted husband to Suzanne (Aznavorian) Charello for 67 years.

Mike began work at an early age delivering milk for Christiansen’s Dairy, driving cross country for Paul Arpin, as a Local 37 Ironworker, most notably working on the construction of the Newport Bridge before working for the Town of North Providence.

Mike was active in his community and served as a volunteer firefighter at Geneva Volunteer Fire Company in North Providence since he was 15 and served for the next 40 years having achieved the rank of Captain, served as President, and is a Life Member of the company.

He was an exceptional baseball player who had opportunity to play for the Red Sox farm team and played softball for many years including for the Sts. Vartanatz Church softball team. He began golfing and belonged to Hampton Hall Golf Club in Bluffton, South Carolina where he played in and won several tournament titles including Individual, Member-Member and Member-Guest awards. As much as he enjoyed playing golf, he loved the hunt for an errant golf ball where his keen eye led to amassing a collection, in the thousands, of golf balls.

His interest in giving to community was evident. He organized the Geneva Children’s Christmas Party, July 3rd Open House where his famous chowder and clam cakes were the highlight of decades of 4th of July celebrations. Mike was a member of the North Providence Town Committee and Men’s Club at Sts. Vartanantz Church. He also coached and umpired Little League and was a Girl’s Softball Coach in North Providence. He was generous throughout his life and never forgot his humble beginnings as he helped others

He was a devoted father to daughters Jeanne (Michael) Fusco and Alison (Robert) Schirone and to his grandchildren, Michael (Alexandria) Fusco, Marc Fusco, Thomas (Ashley) Schirone, and Eric Schirone. His great granddaughter, Sylvia Fusco, and he shared a special bond in their love for dogs and chocolate ice cream with sprinkles.

Mike is brother to his twin, Carolyn Charello, Bernard Charello, and Walter Charello and brother in law to Frances Charello, Dianne Charello, Gloria Nazarian and Eleanor Roberts. In addition to his parents, he was pre-deceased by his siblings, Louis Charello Ellen Ruggiero Hawksley, Claire White, Alice Veader, Ralph Charello, Patricia Baldino, and Elizabeth Charello, and his sisters in law Rose Vartanian and Joanne Aznavorian, and brothers in law Charles Nazarian, Raymond Aznavorian, and Jim Roberts.

He loved and leaves many nieces and nephews.

Visiting hours will be held Monday, March 31st from 5-8 pm at Avery-Storti Funeral Home, 88 Columbia St, Wakefield, RI. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, April 1st at 11 a.m. at Sts. Vartanantz Church, 402 Broadway, Providence, RI . Burial will follow at Highland Memorial Cemetery, 1 Rhode Island Ave, Johnston, RI.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to RI Food Bank or Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Apostolic Church.