Chitaroni, Albert Luigi (1926 – 2021) – Alberto Luigi Chitaroni passed away peacefully at his home at Portage Bay on Friday, June 4, 2021. He was 94. Albert was born on November 2, 1926, in Cobalt, Ontario, the fourth child of Italian immigrants Paolo and Maria Chitaroni. He was predeceased by his parents and brothers Carlo, Pep and Elio.
He was predeceased by the love of his life Carol Chitaroni. Albert was the beloved father of Gino Chitaroni, Nina Chamaillard and Mario (Katrin) Chitaroni; and grandfather of Cassandra and Jacqueline Chamaillard and Dean and Tara Chitaroni.
Albert was a man of many talents. He was an avid sportsperson: track and field events, hockey, baseball, broomball, football, badminton, and bowling for many years. His dedication and services to coaching hockey in the Cobalt Minor Hockey Association for many years was legendary. He was a volunteer fireman, a hard rock miner, a prospector and business entrepreneur.
Albert will be remembered as a long-time resident and businessman in Coleman Township who always put people first. He had helped so many over the years.
He worked at numerous mines in the Cobalt camp, including Silver Miller Mines Ltd. and Agnico Mines Ltd. Along with his brothers, Albert created Portage Bay Lodge on the shores of the Montreal River in the late 1940s; and also, two of his two brothers created Chitaroni Minerals Ltd. that owned and operated their own silver mine from the early 1960’s to the early 1970s in the Cobalt Mining Camp.
Albert was also well known as a long serving member of Coleman Township Council, and a supporter of the Cobalt Mining Museum, Cobalt Historical Society, Historic Cobalt Corporation and the Cobalt Firefighters Museum. He has been recognized by local heritage and museum societies and the Ontario Heritage Trust over the years for his endless and passionate work in successfully protecting and preserving the headframes and other mining structures which dot the landscape throughout the Historic Mining Camp.
Albert loved life and most of all he loved his family and Portage Bay. He was happiest when he would hang his sign at the Lodge in the evenings that said, “Gone Fishing Today”.
Albert will be especially missed by everyone in the Portage Bay community, the many patrons of Portage Bay Lodge, and those that knew and loved him. There was not a person or cause that Albert did not contribute to, whether he was asked or not. He believed in people and showed his never-ending compassion towards others.
A sincere thank you to Dr. Steven Sears, family and friends who cared for Albert and the team of professional homecare providers, who helped Albert in his time of need.
In keeping with Albert’s wishes, a funeral will be held on Thursday, June 10th at 11am. Due to COVID restrictions, a Facebook live stream will be available by Buffam Leveille Funeral Home for friends and family to take part in. Albert will be interred at Ste.Therese Catholic Cemetery in Cobalt along with his wife Carol.
Once the COVID restrictions are lifted, the family will host a Celebration of Life at his beloved Portage Bay which will take place the last weekend of August. Details will be shared once available.
As expressions of sympathy and in keeping with Albert’s wishes donations to the Cobalt Mining Museum would be appreciated. Condolences may be left at www.buffamleveille.com.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Albert Luigi Chitaroni Friday June 4th 2021..
Death notice for the town of: Haileybury, Province: Ontario
Dear Gino, Nina, Mario and Katrin. We were so sorry to hear that your wonderful dad had passed away. Since the age of 10 I have been visiting Portage Bay Lodge and grew to love your family and Albert’s wonderful smile and kind ways. He was a remarkable person, as you know. He always knew where the fish were biting and was willing to share his catch with anyone. I learned to play poker sitting around the tables in the Lodge with Elio, your dad, and Pep. They were a fun bunch of guys. I have watched you all grow up and have children of your own. I know you realize how blessed you were to have Albert as your dad, as I and my family were to call him a friend.
The Hays, (Mary and Pat), Barrett (Tom, Danelle, Bill, Mark) Scheminger (Bill, Jeff, Anna, Eddie, Holly, Nathan, Simon, Lucas and Gretchen) families.