Her surname was apparently MARNO at graduation.

OBITUARY--- Retired Colonel Jean Piccione, better known as Jean Migliorino Piccione, passed away on December 1, 2021 at the age of 90. She was born in Hays, PA to Catherine Tiboni Migliorino and Elmer F. Migliorino.

Jean was raised in Hays, PA in a large Italian family. Dinners with Grandma and movies (outside) on Ashby Street; walking to Holy Angels Church, the candy store and hanging out with her cousins was how she spent her days. When Elma (Ellie) was born, she spent lots of time playing with her little sister and especially rocking her on the rocking horse!

Growing up in Pittsburgh in the 1940's, Jean enjoyed the music of Sinatra. The love of music and dance carried over into her adult life. Jean attended nursing school at St. Francis Nursing School in Pittsburgh, Columbia University in NYC and completed her graduate work at UNC Chapel Hill.

Jean entered the Air Force in 1953, and her first stop assignment was Wichita Falls then Montgomery Alabama. Over the years in the Air Force, she was deployed and stationed in the Philippines, New York City, Hackensack, New Jersey, Tampa, Florida, and San Antonio, Texas. Jean held many roles in the Air Force, as a trainer of flight nurses, opening units for veterans, working with POWs from Vietnam, and even recruitment for the Air Force Nurse Corps. One important role Jean played was in 1956 during the Hungarian Revolution. Jean worked to airlift pregnant refugees from Hungary to the United States. After serving honorably for 26 years, she was discharged from the Air Force in 1979. From that moment on, she travelled all over the world!

When Jean rekindled a friendship with Phillip Piccione, he moved to San Antonio in 1981. From there, they spent all of their time travelling to every country in the world, every state capital, all of the Canadian Provinces and more! In between they managed to fit in 34 cruises. Jean and Phil lived to experience life, other people and other cultures - and there were many!

Jean was a talented dancer, and on one of their trips, Jean and Phillip entered a jitterbug contest and won! Jitterbug, ballroom, or zydeco – whatever it was, Jean loved to dance. Jean was also a scholar and a card-carrying member of MENSA. She was a proficient reader, never giving up on a book, always finishing it even if she didn't like it. She was also a charter member of the Society of Retired Air Force Nurses.

Jean's quick wit, her wide smile and her laugh, along with hearing her attempt at singing "Daisy" (A Bicycle Built for Two) will be very much missed. Her dear friends Mary Thomas (who she recruited for the Air Force along with Helen Kopczynski Antonelli) and John Sudauh will miss the lunches out, dinners at Jean's and Phil's and the time spent laughing.

Jean will be missed by her husband, Retired Lt. Col. Phillip Piccione of San Antonio, TX; sister, Elma Migliorino Cravotta of Pittsburgh, PA; nieces, Darla Jean Cravotta (David Weber), Ret. Lt Col. Christina Cravotta Tarvin (Bill); nephews, Cosimo Cravotta IV (Ruth) , Ret. Master Sergeant Keith Cravotta (Kimi). A slew of great nieces and nephews :Samantha Tarvin, Catrina Tarvin, Ciara Cravotta Rynearson (Kyler), Kenneth Cravotta (Briah), Cosi Cravotta and Emilio J. Weber. Badass women continue generationally with her Great-great nieces, Caramia Cravotta, Isabelle Cravotta and Kayzlee Rynearson. Her memory will always live in family, close friends, and extended family. We love you Aunt Jean.

Interment will take place at Ft. Sam Houston, 10:30 am. on January 20, 2022.

Express-News, Jan. 16, 2022.