Luciano Zaffanella, 78, of Stockbridge MA, died Tuesday at Berkshire Medical Center from complications of multiple myeloma. He died peacefully, surrounded by his family. Born on November 22, 1937, in Mantova, Italy from parents Carlo and Anna Marani Zaffanella, he attended the prestigious Polytechnic University of Milan where he earned a post graduate degree in Electrical Engineering. He began his career in Milan at CESI Research Center and quickly was recognized as a brilliant researcher. Luciano was recruited by General Electric and emigrated to Berkshire County in 1968 for a four year work assignment. He fell in love with his adopted country, became a permanent resident and eventually a citizen, and maintained a home in Berkshire County the rest of his life. Luciano became a world renowned expert in the study of electro-magnetic fields, becoming Manager of General Electric's Project UHV in Lenox, a leading research center for high voltage transmission. He spent 28 years at General Electric and continued to manage the lab when it became part of the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). He then founded the East Coast office of EnerTech, a leading electric industry consulting firm. Luciano was first and foremost a scientist. He authored or coauthored many papers and studies, and was a Fellow of IEEE, the world's largest organization for the advancement of technology. Luciano continued to make contributions to his field as a researcher and consultant for EPRI until his passing. Always a kind and loving husband and father, he was known for his brilliant mind, his love of history and games that challenged and entertained. He even became an author late in life, writing a book that told the story of 20th century Italy through the eyes of his father. At the time of his death, he was writing a second book on Italian Christmas traditions. He enjoyed mountain climbing in his beloved Dolomites, time with his family at his home on Cape Cod, and he was passionate about opera and theater. An enthusiastic ambassador of both American and Italian culture, he hosted many friends and relatives both in the US and in Italy. He will be missed and remembered by all who knew him. He is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Anna Biasin Zaffanella, his son Paolo Zaffanella of Martinez, CA, his son and daughter-in-law Carlo and Amy Boraski Zaffanella of Lenox, MA, his sister and brother in law Marisa and Enzo Bardelli of Cremona, Italy, and grandchildren Alessandra, Cassie, Samuel and Christopher Zaffanella. Funeral Services will be on Friday at 9:15 AM from the Kelly Funeral Home in Lee with a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10 AM at St. Joseph's Church in Stockbridge. Burial will follow in St. Joseph's Cemetery in Stockbridge. Visiting hours will be on Thursday evening from 5 - 7 PM at the Funeral Home. Friends wishing may make donations in his memory to St. Joseph's Church in c/o the Kelly Funeral Home 3 Main Street Lee, MA 01238.

Visitation Details

Thursday, February 4th, 2016 5:00pm - 7:00pm, Kelly Funeral Home

Service Details

Friday, February 5th, 2016 10:00am, St Joseph's Church

Interment Details

St. Joseph's Cemetery in Stockbridge