We regret to advise that Lieutenant D."Dan" Giannini, MBE, RCE (Ret'd) passed away peacefully in Toronto on 15 August 2003.
Dan worked in the mines of Northern Ontario before volunteering for the Royal Canadian Engineers in the Second World War. He served with No 1 Tunnelling Company in Gibraltar, England and Europe, rising to the rank of lieutenant and earning a MiD and an MBE. The MBE came while he was on the rehabilitation of the Florence water supply from 12 August 1944 to 24 August 1944. During the early stages of the work, he and his crew were constantly harassed by the enemy who held the north bank of the Arno River. Dan discovered that the only supply of urgently special parts he needed were over there ahead of our own patrols. Without hesitation, Lt Giannini undertook this dangerous journey and although British and German patrol clashes were being fought some 200 yards to his flank he found a way through to the store and brought back the essential fittings, and did it again the next day.
After the war, Dan switched to insurance with Empire Life rising to Vice-President by retirement. After retirement with no slowdown in sight, Dan became chairman of D.A. Stuart Oil Co. He established the Daniel Giannini Bursary in 1998 to be granted to students enrolled in the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine to provide financial assistance with tuition fees in order to further education in the medical field.
The family will receive friends at the Dodsworth and Brown Funeral Home, 2241 New Street, Burlington, from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. on Thursday, 28 August 2003.[khAug2015} [zsp]
MBE Citation
Lieutenant Giannini, 1 Canadian Drilling Company, was employed with his section in the rehabilitation of the Florence water supply from 12 August 1944 to 24 August 1944. During the early stages the work was constantly harassed by shell fire and snipers from the north bank to with the enemy had withdrawn. On 15 August certain special fittings were urgently required and civilian information disclosed that these could only be obtained from a store located in front of our forward patrols on the north bank. Without hesitation Lieutenant Giannini undertook this dangerous journey and although British and German patrol clashes were being fought some 200 yards to his flank he found a way through to the store and brought back the essential fittings. Lieutenant Giannini successfully repeated this journey later in the day. His action resulted in re-opening the water supply to the city of Florence where conditions were serious. But for Lieutenant Giannini's inspiring and hard working example, showing complete disregard for danger, this vital supply would not have been completed in the time available.
Also see the article Kirkland Lake War Hero: Daniel Giannini by Bernie Jaworsk published in 2013.