Gaudino

Paul Charles Gaudino, aka “The Exercise Man,” succumbed to complications from esophageal cancer on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022.

Born in Butler on Feb.18, 1935, he was the youngest of nine children born to Francesco and Luigia Bevilacqua Gaudino.

He leaves behind five children, Debra Barbara (Joseph Jiovenetta Jr.), Renee Louise (Brian Alexander), Dr. Jon Paul, Troy Charles (Melissa) and Corey Steven (Nickol); eight grandchildren; plus SO MANY cousins, and nieces and nephews, whom he adored, both here and in Italy.

People toss around “unique,” but Paul was an innovator and the most positive person with a perpetually sunny disposition. He started getting in shape in high school, and then entered and won many body-building and weight-lifting contests in his 20s. He left after steroids came into play, and he refused to ever take them to win a contest.

He worked as a shoemaker, fixing shoes at the back of Yost’s Shoe Shop. He began teaching fitness classes part time at the local YMCA. He started with the awful Monday night at 9 p.m. slot to teach. Only a couple of people attended at first, but true pied piper that he was, grew it until the gym was bursting with people! He was one of 12 men in 1970 to win the President's Council on Physical Fitness Award. With the encouragement from his wife, Barbara, whom he met in Germany while serving in the U.S. Army, he started a local TV exercise show in 1971, modeled after his idol, Jack LaLanne. He, however, was insistent in his family being a part of it, as well as many citizens of Butler and the area. He mapped out the first one mile “jogging” track in Butler at Butler Memorial Park, at a time when nobody ran or jogged. He always preached safe exercising with good form. He started Winter Picnics in the dreary month of January in Butler. Imagine people sled riding at Butler Memorial Park and lots of hot chocolate, coffee, hot dogs and marshmallows around the fire at a shelter!

Paul worked tirelessly to motivate other people to exercise and stay in shape, and to lead a long healthy life. He loved having people recognize him on the street, and was always willing to stop and chat.

He was a very moral person but not in a preachy way ... just believed in doing the right thing. He loved his Catholic faith and spent years as an usher at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church. Making it into the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest-running family fitness show was a great source of pride for him.

He volunteered with the mentally disabled, teaching them how to feel better by exercising. He invented the Freedom Towel to help the many veterans’ groups. He was self-taught and determined, reading every book on health and fitness. He wanted the average person to be able to get in shape in their own living room without having to buy fancy equipment.

In addition to his children and grandchildren, he is survived by one sister, Avelin Galante; and a sister-in-law, Sabina Gaudino.

GAUDINO — A celebration of life for Paul Charles Gaudino, who died Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022, will begin with Mass at noon Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, at St. Michael Church, 432 Center Ave., Butler, followed immediately by a remembrance reception in the parish hall.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Paul’s memory to the Butler Disabled Veterans, Chapter 64, P.O. Box 1728, Butler, PA 16003-1728.

Please sign the guest book at www.butlereagle.com.