Born in Montpelier, Vermont, on May 23, 1935, the only child of the late John and Irma (Bianchi) Gariboldi, Father Ronald J. Gariboldi was raised in Lynn and was an alumnus of St. Mary High School there.

Richard Cardinal Cushing ordained him on Feb. 2, 1961, at Holy Cross Cathedral, following Father Gariboldi's seminary studies at St. John, Brighton.

His first assignment was a nine-year one as an assistant at St. Ann Parish, Gloucester. In June 1970, he was appointed an assistant at St. Mary, Quincy; both assignments were made by Cardinal Cushing.

He returned to Gloucester as an associate at St. Peter Parish for a few months in 1971.

In August 1971, he was assigned to graduate studies at the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Ind. For the next four years, he pursued a doctoral degree in pastoral theology and on graduation in 1975, he was appointed to the faculty of St. John Seminary, Brighton.

For 12 years, he was a faculty member with special responsibility for field education of the seminarians. The job was to find places, parishes, offices, agencies where seminarians could gain on-site experience that would help in their overall formation for ordination. The placements were accompanied by a supervisor who served as an extension of the seminary at the placement, and for group theological reflection usually monthly back at the seminary.

In 1987, he was appointed pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Lynn. In 1994, he was back to familiar territory on Cape Ann. First as pastor of St. Joachim Rockport; then, at the newly formed parish of Holy Family, Gloucester, serving variously as a member of a team ministry, administrator, and parochial vicar between 2005 and 2011. During that time, he was also vicar forane of Vicariate I of the North Region of the archdiocese.

In 2011, he was granted of his Communion calls for First Fridays was Mrs. Irma Gariboldi, Father Gariboldi's mother.

Among the concelebrants were Auxiliary Bishop Peter J. Uglietto, also a former student of Father Gariboldi. Others, some former students and other friends, were Msgr. Marc R. Montminy, St. Mary-St Joseph Parish, Salem, N.H.; North Regional Episcopal Vicar, Father Brian Flynn; Fathers Timothy Harrison, Newburyport, Father Robert E. Casey, Gate of Heaven and St. Brigid, South Boston; and senior priests Fathers George Morin and John Kiley. Senior Deacon Ronald D. Gane, who had served with Father Gariboldi in Lynn, was the homilist.

Following the funeral Mass, Father Gariboldi was buried in Calvary Cemetery, Gloucester.