In loving memory of Wildes Actis - Obituary Baldwin Brothers

Obituary

Wildes Actis, 93-years young of Flagler Beach, Florida was called home to eternal rest on January 4, 2024, of natural causes. Wildes was born in Fionnay Bagnes, in the Swiss Alps in the canton of Valais on June 7, 1930, to Amalia Piretti of Varzo, Italy and Anselmo Actis Foglizzo of Caluso, in the Italian region of Piedmont. Wildes was a man of unparalleled fortitude and courage, enduring the hardship of the passing of his mother at the young age of nine. Raised by his father and older sister Nadia in northern Italy, he survived the devastations of World War II with the Italian Fascists and the German occupation. After the war, his technical studies led him to a job at the Sisma Factory in Villadossola, where he worked as a maintenance machinist and developed the skills that would serve him later in life toward becoming a well-respected master automobile mechanic, specializing in electrical auto repair in a land an ocean away from his native Italy.

Wildes, also known as “Cici”, attended the Galletti High School. He met the love of his life, his soul mate, Maria Pia Gaido of Piedimulera, Italy at a church service where she was dressed as an angel. They dated for three years and were married on May 10, 1952. They would share life’s journey for the next seventy-two years.

In May of 1959, Wildes, Maria Pia, and their first born, three-year-old son Robert, took a courageous leap of faith for a better future. They sold all their belongings and purchased a one-way passage to New York on a ship from Genoa, Italy. Leaving behind all their family and friends, they immigrated to the United States in search of the American Dream with only the faith that hard work, determination, and sacrifice could provide better opportunities. The family made their way to the Detroit, Michigan area where Wildes worked his way up from an initial janitorial job to eventually a highly valued master auto mechanic position at Bill Snethkamp Chrysler Dealership in Highland Park, Michigan. He moved his family to Warren, Michigan in 1967 and shortly thereafter, he became an entrepreneur and opened Masonic Auto Electric, Inc. in Fraser, Michigan with Maria Pia always at his side as his wife, a mother, and business partner.

Wildes enjoyed life to the fullest. He loved riding his motorcycle through the winding roads of the Anzasca Valley in Italy, and in Michigan, he continued his outdoor passions with snowmobiling and four-wheeling. He even dabbled with home winemaking. Throughout his life he was an avid athlete, enjoying various sports including, swimming, diving, skiing, mountain climbing, and semi-pro soccer (in Italy). He was also extremely talented in music and enjoyed playing the accordion in a band where he mesmerized his audiences in Italy and Switzerland with mazurkas, waltzes, tangos and polka selections.

Family was the most important part of Wildes’ life. His four children meant the world to him: Robert (wife Barbara Grimm), Stella (husband Dean Aldo), William (wife Kimberly Nowak) and Steven (wife Jackie Lavallier). He was a mentor and counselor and taught his children to live a life of integrity. He enjoyed being a “Nonno” and treasured his time with his grandchildren: Benjamin, Michael, Nicholas, Christopher, Alexandria and Cristina.

Wildes enjoyed traveling, spending time in northern Michigan and returning to the Italian Swiss Alps to visit his most loved relatives and friends. He and Maria Pia retired in Ormond Beach, Florida and later moved to Flagler Beach, Florida where Wildes enjoyed his days filled with the peacefulness of the ocean, fishing, the warmth of the sun, tennis and canasta card games with dear friends. Wildes will always be remembered for his strength and determination. He left a legacy of love and respect which will live on through his children and grandchildren. His sweet smile and gentle ways will be missed by all those who knew and loved him.

A celebration of his life will take place in the spring. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Lung Association.