Paul Michael Giordano, age 87, of Florence, passed away Saturday, May 13, 2023. He was preceded in death by his parents, Michael and Carmella Giordano; wife, Linda Doyle Giordano; sister, Adeline Civittolo; brothers, Raymond Giordano and Vincent Giordano; children, Lisa Giordano, Michael Giordano Melissa), and Maria Dobbs (Dale); grandchildren, Abigail Louise Moore (Trey); John Paul Dobbs, Fiancé, (April Godsey), and Jonah Krueger; great-grandson imminent arrival, Paul Edward Moore.

Our dad was a graduate of the University of Rhode Island and did his post graduate work at the University of Connecticut. After earning his PhD, he and mom packed the kids and everything they owned into a Ford station wagon and made the big move to Alabama so he could begin his new job as a soil scientist with the Tennessee Valley Authority. For over 30 years he worked within the Fertilizer Development Center. He believed in and enjoyed educating foreign governments in better methods of crop production.

During his life he was very active. An avid runner during his time at TVA, he loved the reservation for his lunchtime breaks. He enjoyed playing softball for both TVA and St Joseph’s Church for many years. But golf was his all-time favorite activity. From years at Florence Golf and Country Club to Turtle Point he made many lifetime friends. The year after he retired, he and Mom played the entire Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. As time moved on his favorite pastime was sitting on the balcony of his beachside condo in Navarre Florida soaking up the sun and sounds of the gulf.

But to us he will always be “Dad” or “Poppy”. He was the dad that coached all our teams, the dad that would play in the swimming pool with us for hours, the dad that would make up funny songs to make us laugh for family pictures.

Poppy loved his grandkids. He would pick them up from school and play Louis Prima songs and get them to try to sing along. Then he would make the most amazing homemade pizza! He never missed one of their sporting events and was there for all their life milestones. He was so incredibly proud of them and made sure they knew it.

Our dad loved us as much as he was loved by us. He was a man that truly believed he had been blessed by having the best family and was so grateful every day of his life.

Thank you, Poppy, for everything. We love you forever.

A Celebration of Life will be announced later. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Research Hospital. Williams Funeral Home is assisting the family.