Michael's first projects were the construction of a dichlorostyrene polymer plant (radar essential) and a body-armor resin plant for the Defense Plant Corporation, followed by a Safelex resin plant in the Shawinigan facilities.  Immediately thereafter, Gigliotti became the Research Engineer on the cake-and-frame process for manufacturing polystyrene.  Then he was Technical Superintendent for the cellulose nitrate plastics plant.  Next, Michael became Process Design Supervisor of a three-engineers-plus-ten-draftsmen process design group for "greenfield" new units to make polystyrene, PVC resin, PVC (polyvinyl chloride) sheet, melamine resin and formaldehyde.  Gigliotti also managed the transfer of plywood glue facilities and resinox (phenol-formaldehyde) into the Indian Orchard plant.  In 1949 he became the Maintenance Superintendent for both the new and the old facilities at Indian Orchard. 

 

There was time for other things in Michael's life.  In 1943 he married his high school sweetheart, Rita Patricia Landrigan.  He joined the Knights of Columbus, Indian Orchard Council and was elected Grand Knight and attained 4th Degree ranking in this service organization; he now holds Emeritus Membership.  Michael and Rita had three children: Michael F. X., Jr. (1944), Chalice Eileen (1946), and Valerie Bernardine (1948).

 

In early 1950 Rita passed away unexpectedly after a long illness, leaving Michael in the middle of a burgeoning professional career as a single parent of three kids.  He was 29 years old and the children were ages six, four, and two.  Gigliotti relied heavily on friends during this period, hiring a married couple to live in his home to help with the care of his children. 

 

One day during that summer, as Michael was rushing off to have lunch with his children, he accidentally stepped on the hand of a summer employee as she sat on the steps of his office building eating her lunch with friends.  Miss Miriam Coombs was on leave from her position as a professional skater with Holiday on Ice.  That weekend, the Plant Personnel Manager called Gigliotti and asked if he would transport a new employee who lived near to him to work.  On Monday morning when Michael showed up to give this new employee a ride, to his surprise he discovered that the young lady was the person from his Friday noon-time encounter.