There’s No Place Like [a] Home
by Cate Murway


Purchasing or selling a home is a major life decision, and you need to feel confident in placing your trust in brokers who enjoy a solid reputation in the community. Ramagli GMAC Real Estate [formerly Frank E. Mignoni, Inc.] is professionally equipped to provide you with the service, expertise and advice you need and deserve. Whether you have residential real estate needs, you’re hoping to buy or sell a new home, condo, townhouse, second home, luxury home or any other type of real estate property, you can expect and receive premier service at 226 Mill Street. The Realtors are prepared to provide proficiency for First Time Home Buyers, Employee or Military Relocation, Vacation Homes, Retirement Homes, New Construction Homes, Commercial Properties and much more. Each and every home is as unique as the homeowner who occupies it and the Ramagli GMAC Real Estate team is primed to pay attention to the exquisite character each property contains. No one understands the value of a home better than a Realtor. The “term REALTOR® has come to connote competency, fairness, and high integrity resulting from adherence to a lofty ideal of moral conduct in business relations.” Realtor Code of Ethics

Per Ellen Agnes [Gallagher] Mignoni, BHS ’38, a Radcliffe Street resident who grew up on Buckley Street, her husband, the late Frank E. Mignoni MAI [Member of the Appraisal Institute], SRA, BHS ’37 started his original Mill Street Real Estate business with a partner in 1948. Earlier on, she and Frank had both worked in the Sam Gratz office on 443 Mill Street, currently the now closed ABC Bikes [all bikes & cycles]. Their first home on the urban streetscape was above Frank’s office, a time when many small-business owners lived above the store, assuring a one-minute commute. They raised their three children in the Borough, the late William E. Mignoni, BHS ‘67/LaSalle College, Ellen Mignoni, Villa Joseph Marie ‘70/Trinity College/George Washington University and MaryJo Silvi, VJM ‘74/Trinity College. Ellen remembers a pictured sign in front of her father and brother’s Real Estate office announcing, “It’s A Boy!” when her nephew, the current partner-owner who had access to the competent mentors, Radcliffe Street resident, Frank C. Mignoni, Holy Ghost Prep ‘93/St.Joseph University/Temple University ‘99 was born. 
Mrs. Mignoni shares, “I’m very proud of him. I hope he works as hard as his grandfather and his father.”

"Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration." 
Thomas Alva Edison

Robert Thomas (Bob) Ramagli, Pennsbury H.S. ‘73/BCCC/PennState [Physician Assistant wife, Kimberly [Leitzel], Delhaas ‘81] and Frank, who has been licensed since he was 18, co-own 2 offices, Mill Street and the Yardley location. There are a total of 4 locations where their association of licensed realtors team, including sales director, former P.E. teacher Jane Ramagli-Murray, Pennsbury ‘70/ BCCC/Penn State and softball/track athlete Gina Marie Bomentre, VJM ‘97/Moravian College/Temple University ’02, has the knowledge and skills to put the power of technology and the Internet behind your real estate transactions. Jane‘s daughter, Jane Doheny, Pennsbury ‘98/BCCC shares her sales proficiency in the Fairless Hills office where Bob’s sister-in-law, Delhaas graduate, Debbie [Alley] Ramagli is the Administrative Assistant. This is an energetic company of 102 independent contractor associates in a very warm, relaxed environment.  
PA Brokers Bob and Frank met through R.E. functions while they both served on the Bucks County Association of REALTORS®, Inc. [BCAR]. In July 2006 they merged, forging a win-win relationship while integrating their commercial and residential businesses, under the parent company of GMAC, commercial and residential lending. Their branch is GHS [GMAC Home Services]. They professionally mingle realistic and practical elements of conservatism and flexibility, sharing a strategic plan with clear company vision and goals. 

They proudly declare that the powerful Ramagli GMAC Real Estate is a full service R.E. Company offering sales, mortgage and title services in both a commercial and a residential division with formidable negotiation skills. You don’t need to know everything about buying and selling real estate if you work with a real estate professional who does; one who has hands-on knowledge working in all price ranges, assisting both buyers and sellers, with a detailed understanding of different neighborhoods and surrounding communities.  We’re all looking for more precious time in our lives, and working with pros with good communication skills and a social and warm demeanor gives us that time.

“Genius is the ability to reduce the complicated to the simple.” C.W. Ceran

Why purchase a home? Pride of ownership is the number one reason why people yearn to own their home. Home ownership gives you and your family a sense of stability and security, an investment in your future. Although real estate moves cyclically up and down over the years, real estate has consistently appreciated. Many view their property investment as a hedge against inflation. Home ownership in today’s economic climate offers multiple tax advantages in contrast to renting. At the outset, the largest component of your mortgage payment, the mortgage interest, is fully deductible on your tax return
.
Ramagli GMAC Real Estate experience offered in diverse locations increases the neighborhood knowledge as the Associates either possess intimate familiarity of the desired areas or they know where to find the buzz about your preferred neighborhood. They can identify comparable sales and hand these facts to you, in addition to pointing you in the direction where you can find more in-depth data on schools or demographics.

Real estate is a booming industry, an exciting one in which to be a part. The Ramagli team possesses the skill and abilities to operate their business with great efficiency and the group projects quality; knowing that every person deserves respect, and respect is earned by providing what is promised. These top producing agents are very careful to uphold a client's trust. 

Real estate is an extremely competitive business. The Ramagli group guarantees their time with you and their skill in representing buyers in their home purchase -- to make sure you feel comfortable and secure in their knowledge and experience. They know how to listen and how to counsel you, how to ask the right questions to find out what they need to know to better serve you. Prospective buyers feel confident that the home selected will meet their search parameters. They deliver true customer service. Today’s informed customer is looking for an agent with good communication skills, finely tuned negotiation abilities and unsurpassed knowledge in the field--someone with the persistence and determination to close the deal.

Come in and visit their newly renovated offices with the time-tested reputation for effectiveness and competency. The Ramagli group has earned their reputation among their clients and colleagues for integrity. Their "can do" attitude, enthusiasm, and creativity characterize their approach.

"Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.”  Henry Ford


Call any office and mention this Business Spotlight. 
[1 year] Free Home Warranty $400.00 value [expires 9.30.07]

Member of Bristol Borough Business Association
Bucks County Chamber of Commerce
Ramagli GMAC Real Estate
226 Mill Street
Bristol Borough, PA 19007
215.788.9288
FAX 215.788.0542
ramagli.com

Available by phone or e-mail
rramagli@verizon.net
ginabomentre@msn.com

Yardley/Morrisville Office- 1669 Edgewood Road  215.369.4622
Bensalem Office- 2369 Pasqualone Blvd            215.750.1000
Fairless Hills Office- 119 Trenton Road               215.949.3010

Would you like your business spotlighted?  
e-mail vjmrun@yahoo.com

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Posted: Thursday, February 14, 2013 4:00 am 

Ellen A. (Gallagher) Mignoni passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013
 at Chandler Hall in Newtown, with her family by her side. She was 92.

Born in Bristol Borough, daughter of the late William and Hannah Gallagher, 
she was a lifelong Bristol resident.

Ellen attended St. Mark School and graduated from Bristol High School.
Mrs. Mignoni was a dedicated homemaker and the inspiration behind her husband, Frank Mignoni's, career in real estate.

She spent her earlier years working for Wilsons Distillery, Fleetwings and Stan Katz Real Estate.
Ellen loved her hometown of Bristol, her Irish heritage and was a devout member of St. Mark Church.
Mrs. Mignoni loved to travel, ski, golf, bake, sing and dance.
She enjoyed spending time on Long Beach Island with her family and friends but she especially cherished her time spent with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Frank E. Mignoni; her son, William E. Mignoni; and her sister, Cecilia (Cis) Profy.
Ellen is survived by her loving daughters, Ellen L. Mignoni of Washington, D.C. and Mary Jo Silvi and her husband, Laurence J. Silvi II, of Newtown. She was the devoted grandmother of Frank C. Mignoni (Gina), Krista Gambel (Gregory), Andrea Scaccetti (Bradford), Bridget Silvi, Laurence J. Silvi III and Hannah M. Cohen; great-grandmother of Colin and William Gambel, Addison Mignoni and Isabella and Gianna Scaccetti. Mrs. Mignoni also is survived by her sister, Marie McLaughlin and many nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend her Funeral Mass at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 16, at St. Mark Church, 1025 Radcliffe St., Bristol, PA 19007. Interment will be in St. Mark Cemetery. Friends may call 9 to 10:45 a.m. Saturday morning at St. Mark Church.
In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Mark School, 1024 Radcliffe St., Bristol, PA 19007 would be appreciated. Wade Funeral Home, Bristol

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Jane Ramagli-Murray 
Posted: Thursday, August 29, 2013 4:00 am 

On August 27, 2013 God called home his earthbound angel, Jane Ramagli-Murray. Jane died peacefully at home after her courageous battle cancer.
She will be missed by all who knew her and even those who had not had the chance.
Born Aug. 10, 1953, she was beloved mother to James Murray, Jane Murray-Doheny and Jackie Murray and grand-mother to Sydney, Sophia, Niaya and Maverick. She was loving daughter to Eugene Ramagli and Joan Ramagli and loving sister to Bob Ramagli, John Ramagli and David Ramagli.

Jane knew the true meaning of love, forgiveness and generosity. She will be missed dearly by all friends and family, which to her were one in the same. She wished that we all carry her beliefs into our everyday lives as a way to remember and honor her.
Relatives and friends are invited to her memorial service on Saturday, Aug. 31 at Christian Life Center, 3100 Galloway Road, Bensalem, from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, donations to cancer research would be appreciated.

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Frank C. Mignoni
Frank with wife, Gina and 
Bob Ramagli, Jane Ramagli-Murray
Growing up our closest extended family was my mother’s older sister, Ellen and Uncle Frank. There were three cousins, William, two years younger than me, Ellen and still younger Maryjo. We had family dinners, visits, went to school and church together, vacationed together, exchanged Christmas presents. When the kids were young, we couldn’t have been closer. It was the sister’s bond. My father and Uncle Frank Mignoni were friendly but their interests and personalities were quite different.

Uncle Frank was much more old school Italian. His father had a garden, including a fig tree; his mother cooked Italian, including cannolis. After leaving Italy, I doubt that my Italian grandfather Profy ever got his hands in the soil; and grandmom Profy didn’t cook once the children were grown. Grandpop had anglicized his name from Porfirio and had limited interest in Italian culture. As a kid, I always thought the Mignoni heritage coat was much richer

Uncle could be a tough cookie. I often stopped at their home on Radcliffe street for a Sunday breakfast after church. I watched as my Aunt patted bacon grease off the tops of sunny side eggs with a paper towel. Frank called for her attention, “Ellen, you buttered my toast on the wrong side.” She looked at me, shaking her head, “Your Uncle.” My thirteen year old mind reeled, it was a joke I thought but . . . but also it was Uncle claim as master of his table. ( P.S. My aunt may have buttered the other side of the toast but she staked a strong claim in family decision making.)

One afternoon William and I rode our bikes to Levittown. At the time they lived off 413 in Winder Village. We rode through woods to Bath street, into Bristol, up Radcliffe to Tullytown and the Levittown Shopping Center. When we returned, Uncle was home. He was furious (at William, I was never mentioned). He knew he shouldn’t ride all the way to Levittown. I had frightening images of William being beaten, his bike confiscated. Uncle expected respect and obedience. No questions.

Years later in the summer of my sophomore year I was leaving Bristol to hitch hike back to Boston. My father was refusing to sign papers so Diane and I could be married. I stopped at Mignoni’s on Radcliffe. Aunt Ellen was in tears, Uncle offered to give me a ride to the turnpike, “Things will settle down,” he said before slipping me some spending money. “Thanks, Uncle, hope I see you soon.” When he left I thought, I don’t think he’d have given William a ride to the turnpike and money. Either strict obedience didn’t extend to nephews or he accepted that I was to be married.

My Aunt and Uncle were always generous with me. Throughout HS, I was part of their family skiing season in the Poconos. They paid for equipment and lift tickets. I was treated as a member of the family. When I started graduate school for a doctoral degree, finances were tight. I met with Uncle. Over the next few years, he lent me $10,000 with an agreement if I earned the degree, the loan was forgiven. His agreement was an incentive to not give up.

Uncle Frank was ambitious. I think he had some of the immigrant, World War II veteran’s hunger for a better life. Rather than go into the jewelry business with his brother Carmen, he became a real estate salesman. He worked for an agency with offices at Mill and Pond street. I think he met Aunt Ellen there. In a few years he had opened his own office on Mill street. He eventually hired several salesmen and close friend Gus Cocordus to handle insurance. Mignoni became a name in real estate in Bristol and Bucks County. At some point he took some assessment workshops at Harvard allowing him to claim, “I graduated from Harvard several years ago.”

I remember stopping in his office quite frequently. When William and I were younger, it was to get bottles of cold coke from a refrigerator in the rear of the building. As I got older, I remember stopping and asking the secretary if Uncle was busy. I was usually sent through. He’d be sitting at a large desk with phone and piles of papers. I guess I went to socialize, discuss work, school or other major questions in my life. I respected his judgement and success. The Winder Village house was sold and Mignoni’s built a home on an empty lot on Radcliffe street. They joined the street’s social scene of successful doctors, lawyers, contractors. Our family entered that world with them.

I think my first job outside of Thomas Profy and Sons was caddying at the Torresdale Country Club. I carried Uncle’s bag and he introduced me to the Caddy Master. For several years I was a country club caddy. Although we had golfing privileges once a week, I didn’t take full advantage and never became a golfer. Both Aunt and Uncle golfed regularly. With my father, Uncle was part of the Mill Street Boys Club that went to Penn Relays and NY Millrose game.




























Mill Street Boys Club. Uncle is fourth on right. Father is second on left

Uncle also hired me for painting jobs. I remember painting an apartment over his office. One summer I painted the interior of their house which led to other painting jobs. For al least one summer after my college Freshman year maybe, he got me a job with a contractor friend. Roy Butterworth started me hauling lumber, sheet rocking, but by the end of the summer I was doing some wood trim finishing under the supervision of a Cordisco master carpenter.

Uncle Frank was at ease with old friends and new acquaintances. He drank moderately (whiskey, gin and tonic or small Pony bottles of Rolling Rock) and smoked small cigars. He would regularly go to the Ninth street market in Philadelphis for provolone, prosciutto, olives, good Italian bread. He always enjoyed fresh fruit and a bag of pistachios or lemon ice was a treat. At the beach house, he was known for his clams casinos. For a few years, he packed the kids in a car. He had bought a farm in NJ and the peaches were ripe. The land was probably a short term investment but he wouldn’t let those peaches rot.

Uncle and Aunt came to visit Diane and I in Boston. We took them to Durgin Park for dinner. We waited in a line for a seat at their signature family style tables. Uncle struck up a conversation with a couple behind us. He concluded by giving the guy a business card. I was impressed with his sociability.

At home after dinner or during a party, Uncle would play the piano. We’d hum tunes or prompt him with songs we wanted to hear. On special ocassions he got his 8 mm movie camera with bright lights indoors. All the kids were lined up off stage. As Uncle started filming we were encouraged to walk or dance toward the camera, one after another. The movies are classic 1950s. Uncle was a story teller. When we were young he told and retold a war story. He had a quarter size brown birth mark on one arm. A bullet wound he claimed. It was a short story. He was shot by Germans sitting in an outhouse. We stared in wonder. At least that’s what I remember.

During those same elementary years, he would end summer dinner stories with a question. “Listen carefully,” he’d begin. “I have a question, listen. What’s the difference between a duck?” Listen, what’s the difference between a duck.” We squirmed. “A duck and what,” we screamed. Again, “What’s the difference between a duck? When you know the answer, you will know it’s correct, and won’t have to ask me if its correct,” he continued. “Just think about it. He repeated it slowly emphasizing each syllable. “What’s the difference between a duck?” A week later we’d repeat the routine. I answered Uncle my sophmore or junior year at BC. I wrote: “What’s the difference between a duck? I know the answer.”

Thanks Uncle.