ABOUT US

Jasper Giardina
1929 - 2010

Remembering Jasper Giardina,
by Greg R. Rhomberg February 1, 2010

Jasper Giardina, 1929 – 2010 died January 11^th at the age of 80. Survived by his only child; daughter Alisa Stratton, son-in-law Joe Stratton, two grandsons, Joseph and Nicholas Stratton, three sisters and best friend John Zerilli. Jasper served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and was buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.

Jasper has been handling fruit his entire life. He began working for his family’s business in grade school. From Produce Row, to the now defunct Union Market in Downtown St. Louis to eventually a place of his own. It was 8^th and Market Streets where he was able to mix fruit, baskets and antiques. Jasper would construct beautiful towering fruit baskets and sell a few antiques and collectibles there. Antique radios soon became his passion and eventually forced him to find a much larger place.

Jasper became the curator of Jasper’s Antique Radio Museum on Cherokee Street in South St. Louis, Missouri, “the home of 10,000 radios” as he would say. The complete history of the radio could be found there from the early days through the 1980’s and there’s even a broadcast booth.  Over the years Jasper has sold antiques ranging from oak furniture to ice boxes, many of which he would find by scouring the countryside and auction houses for. Later in his antiques career the dealing gave way to collecting. Jasper attended many of the national shows; Elgin Antique Radio Show, Chicagoland Antique Advertising, Slot Machine and Jukebox Show, and the Indy Advertising show to name a few. The later is when I came into the picture.

Going to the Chicagoland Show with Jasper and John Zerilli was more like an event. It began several days before the show itself. We would visit the area’s top collectors and restorers. It was fun to watch Jasper make a deal… and man did he deal! Nothing was too large or heavy for him either, he figured out how to handle it. We made many new friends along the way and had many great meals, Jasper loved to eat. Like the time at Pete’s Café for breakfast, the server kept asking him for additional sides, he’d say yes and he got them all. I wish everyone could have seen his eyes when the entire tray of food was his. Jaspers birthday always lined up with the Fall Chicagoland Show. His favorite place to dine was Al Capone’s’ Hideaway on the Fox River with its speakeasy atmosphere. I was fortunate enough to have spent many a birthday celebrations with Jasper.

Jasper worked his fruit basket business right up to the very end. This past November he said he was too busy to go to the Chicagoland Show. Upon returning that is when I found out a brain tumor was keeping him from the twice a year journey. Fortunately for Jasper his daughter Alisa was there to care for him. We will all certainly miss Jasper and all his antics.

Read about Jasper’s Tropical Fruit Baskets from Inside St. Louis’ archive; November 2008. Better yet order a fruit basket from Alisa as she continues the tradition of delivering these beautiful and delicious creations daily.

Click for Jasper's Photo Gallery