Louis Alexander Guadagno

Louis A. Guadagno, 82, of New Hamburg, NY, passed away on June 13, 2026, after a valiant battle with two forms of cancer. Louie will be remembered as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, a successful IBM executive, and a private pilot.

Born on December 28, 1943, Louie was the son of the late Alexander and Lillian Guadagno. In 1966, he married the love of his life, Judith Froning Guadagno. They were married for 60 years. Louie was the best father ever to his daughter, Angela Martin and her husband Rob of Farmington, CT, and his son, Alex Guadagno and wife Erin of Westwood, MA. He was the proud grandfather of Ryan, John, Liam, and Alex-grandsons #1, #2, #3 and #4, as he lovingly referred to them. And his many nieces and nephews were dear to his heart.

Louie was born and raised in the steel mill town of Tarentum, PA, by parents of Italian descent, whose drive, determination, faith, and love shaped the man he became and the life he and Judy built together. Louie earned his B.S. and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh School of Engineering. On graduating with his M.S. in 1968, he began his 51-year career with IBM, in Poughkeepsie, NY.

Louie's father, Alex, was the driving force in his life and inspired his "pick and shovel" leadership style. Alex emigrated from Italy in 1921 at the age of 16 and started his own small steel construction and ornamental railings business in the 1930s. Louie began working for him at the age of 9, including every summer, until he went away to college. He attributes his successful IBM career to the work ethic his father instilled in him.

Louie's IBM career spanned both the Laboratory and Manufacturing. He was IBM Poughkeepsie Plant Manager and Enterprise Systems Worldwide Manufacturing Manager in the early 1990s and reached Director level in the Development Laboratory from the mid 1990s until he retired in 1998. He spent his entire career as a pivotal leader in the worldwide development and manufacturing of IBM Mainframes. He retired from IBM in 1998 and worked for the company as a consultant for another 21 years.

Louie and Judy were members of St. Columba Catholic Church in Hopewell Junction, NY. Their faith was paramount in their lives and was the catalyst for a wonderful and enduring love and life together. In his later years, Louie was a dedicated usher, caring for all those in his section of pews.

Louie loved to fly. It was a passion of his and he flew as a private pilot for 44 years, owning his own Piper Dakota, N279LG, for the final 30 of those years. Louie was happiest when he was with his family, especially enjoying his four grandsons. He will be deeply missed by all those whose lives he touched.  

The entire Guadagno family extends our gratitude to all the healthcare professionals Louie and Judy had the good grace to work with for their exceptional care at Columbia Presbyterian in New York City during the past 14 years, and in his final hours at Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital in Poughkeepsie, NY.

Calling hours will be at McHoul Funeral Home, Hopewell Junction, NY, on Friday, June 19, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Columba Church on Saturday, June 20, at 10am, followed by burial at Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations to St. Columba Church, Hopewell Junction, NY. Please note your donation is: "In honor of Louie Guadagno."