Gloria Ann Reich, née Bongiovanni, passed away on September 12, 2022, surrounded by family members, aged 71. She was born November 29, 1950, the eighth of what would be 15 children born to Joseph Bongiovanni and Virginia Frost of Rocky Point, NY, on the north shore of Long Island. Her childhood, though, was spent moving around the country: first relocating to a horse ranch in the deserts of Southern California, then to a sheep farm in Oregon, and later to the small town of Tipton, Indiana, before returning to Long Island in her teenage years. It was there that she met her true love, Richard "Richie" Reich, whom she married on January 17th, 1970. Together they moved to San Francisco, where Gloria always remembered the song “We’ve Only Just Begun” being used in commercials for a local bank. The two had many adventures, including traveling around Canada and living in a converted old school bus with Gloria’s brother Joe and his family. Richie passed away in March of 1989 after a lengthy illness, during which Gloria cared for him. In the early 90s, Gloria moved into the New York City apartment of her beloved cousin and childhood best friend, Rosemary, in order to help care for her daughter, Ornella, who would remain the apple of Gloria’s eye for the rest of her life. In 2020, she and Rosemary moved to the home they’d purchased in Onancock, on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, where each year they hosted Thanksgiving dinners of epic proportions.

Over the course of her working life, Gloria took on many different professional roles to which she always dedicated herself fully: hired as a receptionist, she rose to become the production manager of a women’s fashion manufacturer in New York City's Garment District. But throughout her life, Gloria’s true passion was nurturing her expansive network of family and friends. She dedicated herself to supporting her younger siblings— and several older ones—, dozens of nieces and nephews, and really anyone she came across whom she sensed needed her care. Gloria loved with all her heart and, a middle child through and through, always ensured her beloved family remained close despite distances and life changes. Gloria will be most remembered for her unmatched warmth and intelligence, sharp and ever-present sense of humor, and generosity of spirit.

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