Thursday, January 01, 2004

By Jan Ackerman, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

On a day when she buried her husband, Constance Zambelli looked tense and tired as she gave the cue that lit up the skies of New Castle in his honor.

	Martha Rial, Post-Gazette A dazzling display by Zambelli Fireworks Internationale exploded over New Castle, Lawrence County, last night -- a farewell to 2003 and to the Zambelli family patriarch,, George Zambelli Sr., who died on Christmas Day at the age of 79. Click photo for larger image.

"Four! Three! Two! One! This one's for you, George," she spoke into a two-way radio.

"Fire!"

At her direction, the skies of the Lawrence County town were filled last night with a special fireworks display honoring native son George Zambelli Sr., who died on Christmas Day and was buried yesterday.

It was a show that rivaled those New Year's Eve shows that New Castle-based Zambelli Fireworks Internationale put on in more than 200 cities worldwide, including Pittsburgh, Boston and New York City.

But New Castle's fireworks marked more than the dawn of the new year. It was a sentimental and loving tribute from the Zambelli family to George Zambelli Sr., who took the helm of the business in 1946 and made it a trend-setter in pyrotechnic and choreographed fireworks displays.

"He would have loved this," said Dr. George Zambelli Jr., of Marshall, one of the Zambelli children.

George Zambelli Sr., 79, died of complications from the flu after a 10-year battle with cancer.

Earlier yesterday, the Zambelli family had its own daylight fireworks display at St. Mary's Cemetery, New Castle, where he was interred after an 11 a.m. funeral Mass. That event featured flags on parachutes, clouds of colored smoke and signature titanium salutes.

"My Dad planned it. I think he planned it that way ... leaving on Christmas ... and a show on New Year's," Dr. Zambelli said.

New Castle doesn't have a New Year's Eve celebration. Constance Zambelli wanted this one to be held early in the evening so that children could enjoy it. Locals came early to get a good spot. Some toted lawn chairs and small children to the 6 p.m. show.

Joan Jannetti of New Castle, who came with a large number of family members, said the early show was the perfect way to begin a New Year's Eve celebration that included going to church and visiting relatives in Butler.

Like many locals who stood in the parking lot of the Cascade Galleria, she had only the warmest things to say about the Zambelli family and what they have done for New Castle.

"New Castle is the fireworks capital of the United States," she said proudly.

Clasping their arms around each other, members of the Zambelli family stood in the parking lot watching a display that was choreographed to George Zambelli Sr.'s favorite music, songs such as "On the Road Again," "Over the Rainbow" and "The 1812 Overture" and displayed Zambelli signature fireworks shells, peace signs, heart shapes and blue stars.

Some of the special designs were made by Zambelli's late brother, Joseph Zambelli, and were the type more normally seen at fireworks displays in larger cities.

That pleased Luanne Neff, 52, of New Castle, who settled in to enjoy every last boom and blast.

"I am a fireworks fanatic," she said, adding that she sometimes goes to Pittsburgh to see Zambelli fireworks.

Ida D'Errico of Pittsburgh, a family friend, said the Zambelli family received condolences from around the world.

Even the White House sent a floral bouquet. In September 2001, the Zambelli family did a fireworks display at the White House during a visit from Mexican President Vicente Fox, Dr. Zambelli said.

George Zambelli Sr. "put New Castle on the map," said D'Errico, a New Castle native.

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