Encyclopedia Titanica
Philip Hind
Staff member
Member
Victor Giglio : Titanic Victim
Victor Giglio was a valet to American millionaire Benjamin Guggenheim.
www.encyclopedia-titanica.org
L
liz
Member
Does anyone have any information about Victor Giglio the valet to Ben Guggenheim? His life family nationality etc... Thanks.
D
Daniel Rosenshine
Guest
Hi!
This site does say that Mr Giglio was in B86, and his employer was in B82-84. Quite actually, Mr Giglio was in B84 with Guggenheim. B86 was occupied by someone else.
Mr Guggenheim did not occupy B-82-84, but merely occupied B84, with Giglio.
I'm sure that it is well known, that after Guggenheim and Giglio went up to the boat deck, they returned to put on their best clothes, and went down with the ship.
Daniel.
This site does say that Mr Giglio was in B86, and his employer was in B82-84. Quite actually, Mr Giglio was in B84 with Guggenheim. B86 was occupied by someone else.
Mr Guggenheim did not occupy B-82-84, but merely occupied B84, with Giglio.
I'm sure that it is well known, that after Guggenheim and Giglio went up to the boat deck, they returned to put on their best clothes, and went down with the ship.
Daniel.
G
Geoff Whitfield
Member
Dear Liz.
Victor Gaeton A. Giglio was born in Toxteth Park, Liverpool, England in 1888/89
Tht Guggenheim family described him as an "Egyptian" but I think it probable that he was Italian.
Best wishes & good luck!
Geoff.
Victor Gaeton A. Giglio was born in Toxteth Park, Liverpool, England in 1888/89
Tht Guggenheim family described him as an "Egyptian" but I think it probable that he was Italian.
Best wishes & good luck!
Geoff.
Mike
Member
I remember reading one source that claimed Mr. Giglio was Armenian, and that his family (sister, I believe) wanted it clarified that he was Mr. Guggenheim's secretary, not a valet. Unfortunately, I don't remember where I read it. Has anyone else seen this?
J
Jeffrey M. Kern
Member
Was Benjamin Guggenheim's full name merely Benjamin? Just a quickie question, as I have wondered, although I believe it probably is.
D
Deborah Giglio
Guest
Victor Giglio may be a relative of mine. I am trying to trace his lineage.
He was born on June 17th, 1888. His father Frederick Joseph Giglio, was of Italian descent(?), his mother Despina Sepsi Giglio was of Egyptian descent.
His father was a cotton merchant. I would appreciate if anyone knows more about him to e:mail me at [email protected] and put TITANIC/GIGLIO in the subject line. Thanks.
Deb Giglio
He was born on June 17th, 1888. His father Frederick Joseph Giglio, was of Italian descent(?), his mother Despina Sepsi Giglio was of Egyptian descent.
His father was a cotton merchant. I would appreciate if anyone knows more about him to e:mail me at [email protected] and put TITANIC/GIGLIO in the subject line. Thanks.
Deb Giglio
B
bob (1252)
Member
in the 1891 census for toxteth park his father and 3 elder brothers were born in EGYPT
Arun Vajpey
Member
Not directly related to that article, but coincidentally, I was thinking about Victor Giglio just earlier today. It started with Steward Etches' encounter with Guggenheim and Giglio in the former's cabin after the collision.
Benjamin Guggenheim was heard (by whom?) to remark towards the end that they - Giglio and himself - had dressed in their best and were prepared to go down like gentlemen. There have even been remarks that people saw the two sitting on deck chairs calmly sipping brandy and smoking cigars. In any case, neither man survived.
I have often wondered about Giglio's mindset in the situation in which he found himself. He was a Liverpudlian of Italian descent and a "gentleman" only by the virtue of the fact that he was Guggenheim's valet. Did he feel compelled to follow his master's example - maybe even coerced? It is difficult for me to imagine that Giglio (RIP) voluntarily offered to remain on board with his boss and not even try to get a place on the boat.
What are others' thoughts on this?
Benjamin Guggenheim was heard (by whom?) to remark towards the end that they - Giglio and himself - had dressed in their best and were prepared to go down like gentlemen. There have even been remarks that people saw the two sitting on deck chairs calmly sipping brandy and smoking cigars. In any case, neither man survived.
I have often wondered about Giglio's mindset in the situation in which he found himself. He was a Liverpudlian of Italian descent and a "gentleman" only by the virtue of the fact that he was Guggenheim's valet. Did he feel compelled to follow his master's example - maybe even coerced? It is difficult for me to imagine that Giglio (RIP) voluntarily offered to remain on board with his boss and not even try to get a place on the boat.
What are others' thoughts on this?
S
SmileyGirl
Guest
I’ve always felt sorry for him in that he was probably forced to stay or felt obliged to stay at any rate. Chances are he wouldn’t have got into a boat. But I do wonder what he was thinking. Well I wonder what everybody was thinking!
Steven Christian
Member
It's not difficult for me to imagine. There were lots of sacrifices that night. From women choosing to stay with their husbands to men helping others get in the boats when they could have themselves. J.J. Astor's valet Victor Robbins went down with the ship too.
Arun Vajpey
Member
Yes, but a spouse or other family member choosing to stay under such circumstances has an entirely different meaning. That is due to an emotional attachment, stronger in some than others.
But a servant choosing to remain with his master is different. With Astor, there has been mention that after helping his wife into Lifeboat #4, he politely asked if he could join her but was turned down. Is there any evidence or even rumour if Victor Robbins tried to find a place in one of the lifeboats? What were his whereabouts later on in the sinking? I do not recall reading anything about Robbins remaining with Astor but admit that I might have missed it.
In case of the other Victor - Giglio, there is the famous and oft repeated Guggenheim quote about 'going down like gentlemen'. That is why I wondered.
But a servant choosing to remain with his master is different. With Astor, there has been mention that after helping his wife into Lifeboat #4, he politely asked if he could join her but was turned down. Is there any evidence or even rumour if Victor Robbins tried to find a place in one of the lifeboats? What were his whereabouts later on in the sinking? I do not recall reading anything about Robbins remaining with Astor but admit that I might have missed it.
In case of the other Victor - Giglio, there is the famous and oft repeated Guggenheim quote about 'going down like gentlemen'. That is why I wondered.
Steven Christian
Member
Although I don't how you could prove it as a certain fact but from Col.Gracie's testimony it is pretty much accepted that JJ Astor did ask if he could get in the boat with his pregnant wife to look after her. Not an unreasonable request in my opinion. But when told he couldn't he stepped aside and then asked the number of the lifeboat in hopes he might find her later if he made it. There were lots of stories right after the sinking about his actions most probably just made up by the press but if you read his bio the guy was not a slacker. As for Robbins I haven't read anything either about where he was was during Titanics last minutes.
RileyGardner17
Riley Gardner
Member
I'm aware as to the age of this discussion, but as it's the only place where discussion on Giglio seems to be happening, I figured I'd ask:
Why did Guggenheim - an exceedingly wealthy man - share a cabin with Giglio? It seems odd to me, especially since he put Aubert and his chauffeur in separate cabins. The ship had more than enough space, and Guggenheim had more than a little money to splurge. If he wanted Giglio close at hand, why not give him a cheaper cabin across the corridor as others did with their servants?
Why did Guggenheim - an exceedingly wealthy man - share a cabin with Giglio? It seems odd to me, especially since he put Aubert and his chauffeur in separate cabins. The ship had more than enough space, and Guggenheim had more than a little money to splurge. If he wanted Giglio close at hand, why not give him a cheaper cabin across the corridor as others did with their servants?
