David Paul Bianchi

April 11, 1943 - January 13, 2022

On Thursday, January 13, 2022, David Paul Bianchi, beloved father, grandfather, brother, and “unc”, passed away at the age of 78. David was born on April 11, 1943 in Peoria, Illinois to Otello and Lillian Bianchi. He moved to Longboat Key, Florida in 1958 when he was 14-years-old. He became interested in serving his community and gained local recognition by becoming the youngest volunteer fireman on Longboat Key. He was still 14-years-old when he tended brush fires along with older more experienced men. He graduated from Manatee High school in 1961 and briefly attended Manatee Junior College (now known as State College of Florida) before enlisting in the United States Navy in 1962. He was attached to an Anti-Submarine Warfare Squadron in Quonset Point, Rhode Island, known as the VS-34 and toured aboard the USS Essex. David married his first wife, Anne Marie Behrens in 1964 and they lived on base in Rhode Island for the remainder of his Navy career. In 1966 they moved back to Longboat Key and David resumed volunteering as a fireman. In 1968 they welcomed the birth of their first daughter, Elizabeth Anne Bianchi Nilsen into the world, and in 1969, their second daughter, Michelle Marie Bianchi. In the ‘70s, while David was serving as the last Volunteer Fire Chief for Longboat Key, he joined the Manatee City Health Department and became the founder of the Longboat Key Rescue Squad. In January 1977, as a full-time member of the Longboat Key Fire Department, he was the first among his associates to complete the Emergency Medical Technician course, and be a member of the highly skilled rescue squad that ultimately reduced the death rate (due to heart attacks) on the Key. In 1979 he met and married his second wife, Cheryl Wilson, and welcomed his third daughter, Alicia Elaine Bianchi Watts into the world in 1981 and then his fourth daughter, Lauren Elaine Bianchi in 1990. David has worn many hats during his lifetime: Navy seaman, fireman, paramedic, entrepreneur, consultant, real estate and mortgage manager and restaurant owner. At the age of 58 he joined his nephew in the insurance adjuster industry and remained in that field until his retirement. David was preceded in death by both parents, Otello and Lillian Bianchi, and his grandson, Tanner Nilsen. He is survived by his sister, Elaine Rosier, his four daughters, Elizabeth Bianchi Nilsen (spouse: Brendan Richard), Michelle Marie Bianchi, Alicia Bianchi Watts (spouse: Anthony Watts), and Lauren Elaine Bianchi, his grandchildren, Thomas Nilsen, Hope Nilsen, Andrew Interial (fiancé: Lauren Davis), Austin Interial (spouse: Karli Interial), Alivia Watts, Aidan Watts, and Norah Murray, and his great-grandson Arthur Jackson Interial, expected to arrive in late February 2022. David will also be greatly missed by his loving nieces, nephews, extended family members and friends. Visitation and Service will be held at Toale Brothers Funeral Home, 40 N. Orange Ave, Sarasota, Florida 34236 at on Wednesday, January 26, 2022 at 10:00AM and 11:00AM respectively. A Military Burial will follow at the Sarasota National Cemetery, 9810 State Rd. 72, Sarasota, Florida 34241 at 1:00PM. An “Italian” reception will be held at 3:00PM at the home of a family member. Location will be disclosed the day of the service. The family is requesting that attendees wear red since it was David’s favorite color. For those unable to attend, the service will be live streamed via the following link: http://vimeo.com/event/1763711 In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to Tidewell Hospice in honor of David Paul Bianchi via their website: www.tidewellhospice.org or by mailing a check to: Tidewell Hospice 5955 Rand Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34238.