ANGELO C. BIANCO (Age 96)  CIA Officer, Marine Veteran  
Angelo C. Bianco died on May 17, 2017 from respiratory failure at the Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, Virginia. He was 96. He was surrounded by his children, Michael and Lisa, and by two of his 12 grandchildren in his final days. Born October 17, 1920 in Pittston, Pennsylvania, he was a graduate of St. John High School. He earned a football scholarship to St. Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire, but he left college in 1944 to join the United States Marine Corps. He was a Scout-Artillery Forward Observer with the 6th Marine Division and fought in the Battle of Okinawa. He earned the Presidential Unit Commendation Medal and participated in the Japanese surrender on August 15, 1945. After the war, he completed his undergraduate degree at St. Anselm and went on to pursue graduate studies at Fordham University in New York. While at Fordham, he was recruited by the Army Security Agency. He went on to join the CIA, serving for more than 20 years as an operations officer in Europe and Asia. He retired in 1975 and was awarded the Career Intelligence Medal for exceptional achievement. In addition to his two children, he is survived by one brother, Albert Bianco of Pittston, sisters in law, Rosa Bianco of Roanoke, Virginia and Constance DeSimone of Marlboro, Massachusetts, twelve grandchildren, six great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 61 years, Kathleen DeSimone Bianco. He was the son of the late Anthony and Marianina Bianco and brother to the late Nunzio "Nick" Bianco, Armando Bianco, and Rose Bianco Fabrizio. A mass of Christian Burial will be offered Thursday, May 25, 2017 at St. Luke Catholic Church, 7001 Georgetown Pike, McLean, Virginia at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the National Association for Down Syndrome.