Ben GiaQuinta dies (Journal Gazette)
FORT WAYNE – Ben GiaQuinta, a former state representative and World War II veteran, died Sunday morning from complications tied to congestive heart failure. He was 87. GiaQuinta died at the home of his son, Mark GiaQuinta, where he had been living for seven months. His six children were with him when he died.
“Most people will think of him as a true gentleman and someone who was very kind and thoughtful,” Mark GiaQuinta said. “But he was also extremely determined in everything he did, that’s what made him an effective legislator. When he wanted to get something through, he was relentless in his approach.”
Ben GiaQuinta, born in Brockton, Mass., served in World War II for three years and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. He spent much of the war with the 102nd Infantry in Europe as a rifleman and machine gunner. Before his retirement in 2006, he was the last World War II veteran to serve in the Indiana House. GiaQuinta moved to Fort Wayne in 1946 to work at a friend’s driving school but left Indiana a few years later to start driving schools in Texas. He returned a few years later and married a former driving student. He and wife Helen later moved to Louisiana where GiaQuinta continued in the driving school business and earned a degree from Louisiana State University. The family returned to Fort Wayne in 1953.
GiaQuinta eventually became a real estate agent, often going by the name of “Ben Quinn” to minimize customer confusion over his last name. “Of course I never changed my name,” he recalled in a 1990 interview. “But years ago on the telephone, people had a terrible time with the name GiaQuinta – people couldn’t pronounce it, they’d get it fouled up and they’d forget it. “And I realized I was losing money because people couldn’t remember my name.” In 1986, Mark GiaQuinta, then a city councilman, persuaded his father to seek a seat on the Wayne Township Board, which oversees the township trustee’s office. GiaQuinta won.
He was still a virtual political unknown in May 1989, when he publicly accused Jim Winters, then the Wayne Township trustee, of corruption and misuse of township funds. He made headlines when he agreed to discuss a preliminary audit of township books that showed Winters had to repay the township $21,000 in unauthorized spending. In the months that followed, eight township employees were indicted on charges of participating in a kickback scheme with vendors who dealt with the township. Winters was later indicted on felony charges of forgery, theft and official misconduct. He resigned after pleading guilty to 10 misdemeanor counts of official misconduct. GiaQuinta was first elected to the General Assembly in 1990, at age 70.
He served two terms until his defeat by Republican John Becker in 1994 by a handful of votes. He regained the seat in a 1996 rematch and served until 2006. While serving in the legislature, GiaQuinta earned a reputation as the “gentleman of the House.” Colleagues from both parties described him as kind, respectful, and bipartisan. “He was one of the most sincere people you would ever want to meet, whether with dealing with people or dealing with legislation,” said state Sen. Thomas Wyss, R-Fort Wayne. “I don’t know anybody who dealt with him who didn’t like him, and that’s hard to say in politics.” In addition to being well-liked, GiaQuinta was known for his effectiveness, said former Rep. Randy Borror, R-Fort Wayne. “Ben was one of the true statesmen of the Indiana General Assembly,” Borror said. “He cared about Fort Wayne immensely. I could always go to Ben when there was an issue facing Allen County and Fort Wayne and he would always make things happen.”
Phil GiaQuinta said his father loved interacting with constituents. “There was never an issue too small or too large for him to tackle,” he said. “It didn’t matter who the person was, he would do his best to try and solve the problem.” In February 2006, GiaQuinta announced he would not seek another term and later confirmed he had a non-aggressive form of lymphoma. Phil GiaQuinta later won his father’s seat.During her husband’s House farewell speech, Helen GiaQuinta and several other family members looked on from the visitors’ balcony. Helen GiaQuinta attended sessions over the years and received a standing ovation of her own that day. She died in June 2009, after being married to Ben for 62 years. “I think Dad died as much of a broken heart as he did of a failed heart,” said Mark GiaQuinta, currently president of the Fort Wayne Community Schools board.
Ben GiaQuinta suffered a heart attack in 2002 but continued to be active even as his health declined, even going to church earlier this month. His friends and family described him as athletic and fit. “He was a good man and a gentleman, but he was very strong physically,” said his friend, House Speaker Patrick Bauer, D-South Bend. “That’s why he lived a long, productive life.” One of GiaQuinta’s more significant honors came in October 2007, when Gov. Mitch Daniels awarded him the Sagamore of the Wabash. “Isn’t that wonderful?” a happy GiaQuinta said. “I never really thought I would get anything as nice as that. I’m just thrilled to no end to have received such a prestigious award.” The honor was requested by an eclectic group of Republicans and Democrats who had worked with GiaQuinta over the years in the Statehouse.
The letter seeking the Sagamore spoke of Ben GiaQuinta’s childhood, his service during World War II, his enduring marriage and his accomplished children. But it also focused on the many projects benefiting Fort Wayne and Allen County that GiaQuinta had a role in through the years. “Ben offered his assistance without regard to political persuasion,” the letter said. “Ben GiaQuinta nominated many who were recipients of the Sagamore of the Wabash award. It is doubtful that a single one of those recipients was more deserving of the honor than he is.”