Louis J. Gaeta's Obituary
Louis Gaeta, age 93, of North Ridgeville, passed away on Monday, November 20, 2023 at St. John Medical Center in Westlake.
Louis Gaeta was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1930. He attended St. Cecelia Catholic School and Benedictine High School. While in the reserves, when the Korean Conflict broke out in 1950, Lou was assigned to the Air Force Signal Corp and sent to Europe for aerial mapping of strategic locations. Upon returning to civilian life, he took a position with Edcom Productions as an industrial/commercial photographer. He retired in 1995 after 25 years with Edcom.
In his earlier days, Lou traveled with the Beatty Cole Brother’s Circus, performing a wrestling act with a 400-pound lion. While in Florida, he also worked for the Ross Allen Reptile Institute where he milked rattlesnakes for medical research. Several years later, while living in Peoria, Illinois, Lou took the position of Director of the Glen Oak Zoo.
Upon returning to Cleveland, Lou appeared on numerous TV shows with live birds of prey. He also lectured at school assembly programs throughout the country with the birds and a mountain lion cub. With his extensive knowledge and referred to as the “Eagle Whisperer.” This led to the training of the Bald eagle at the Natural History Museum in Cleveland and the Bald eagle at the Medina Raptor Center. The birds were used in educational programs for public education.
Upon retiring, Lou participated in numerous arts and crafts shows with his photography. He became active in St. Peter Parish in North Ridgeville and became a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus with Assembly 3019 of North Ridgeville.
He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Jean (nee Giangrande); daughter Patti Lou (Eddy Chiochetti) Burke; grandchildren Jason Burke and Kristen (Michael) Weissfuss; great grandchildren Logan and Jordan Weissfuss; brother Richard (Ellie) Gaeta of Florida; sister-in-law Johanna Gaeta of Illinois.
Lou was preceded in death by his parents Michael and Anna Gaeta; first wife Pat Gaeta (nee Gydosh); sister Delores (Ernie) Palma; brother Michael Gaeta.
Family will receive friends in the Bogner Family Funeral Home, 36625 Center Ridge Rd., N. Ridgeville, on Friday from 4-7 p.m. and on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. for a prayer service preceding a 10:00 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at St. Peter Church, 35777 Center Ridge Rd., N. Ridgeville. Rev. Bob Franco will officiate. Interment with military honors will be in St. Joseph Cemetery, Avon. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to to Medina Raptor Center www.medinaraptorcenter.org
For further information, or to leave an online condolence, please visit www.bognerfamilyfuneralhome.com.
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