1956 ~ Joseph R. Carangi marries 1st wife Joan Martin, has son William.
1958? ~ Joe Carangi marries 2nd wife Kathleen Adams.
1958 ~ Gia’s brother Joseph Jr was born
1959 ~ Gia’s brother Michael was born
1960, January 29 ~ Gia Marie Carangi was born on to this Earth.
1965, March 27 ~ Gia’s Grandmother, Joe’s Mother, Lucy Menichella died, 70 yrs old. (born 1895) Gia was 5 yrs old.
1968 ~ Gia gets her first hair cut at eight years old.
1971, February ~ Kathleen moves out, leaving Joe and the children. Gia had just turned 11 years old on January 29.
1971, March ~ Kathleen meets Henry Sperr at a local bar. Henry had actually been a high school classmate of hers, although they didn’t know each other back then.
1972, July 25 ~ Kathleen marries Henry Sperr.
1973 ~ Gia discovers David Bowie and becomes a “Bowie kid”. At 13 years old she chooses her own haircut, and gets the Bowie brush cut. Her last haircut had been at 8 yrs old.
1973, Fall ~ Ninth grade, Lincoln High school, Gia and Karen Karuza meet and become friends. Karen and Gia dressing in Bowie type clothes, belonging to the small “outrageous” social crowd. Gia 13 yrs old.
1973 ~ Gia meets Darlene Dunn at a club in Philadelphia. Gia 13, Darlene 14 yrs old.
1974 ~ Gia officially moves in with Kathleen and Henry, while keeping a bedroom at her Dad’s, now living in “dual-residences”. Age 14 yrs old.
1974 ~ Gia’s Mom finds letter Gia wrote to girl who spurned Gia’s romantic advances. Gia was 14. First time Kathleen learns about Gia’s sexuality. Kathleen calls family Doctor who suggests Gia see a counselor.
1974 ~ Kathleen and Henry’s friend Meyer Siegel asked Joe Petrellis to photograph Gia.
1974 ~ Gia’s first test shoot was at Joe Petrellis’s house in a series of outdoor shots. Gia 14 yrs old.
1974, Fall ~ Gia freaks out over an incident with Henry. Psychiatrist says Gia is suicidal, say she needs to live elsewhere. Gia moves back to her Father’s, but now he and his new (3rd) wife with 4 sons of her own, live in Richboro.
1975, February, Friday ~ At 11pm, Gia and Timmy Mills arrived at her friend Darlene Dunn’s house for a party. Timmy laid out a combo platter of powders and smokables. Gia’s friend Ronnie Johnson, his girlfriend Roseanne Rubino, Stevie Beverly* and two other people each snort two huge lines of the powder they assumed was cocaine. It turned out to be PCP. The five of them went to the ER and were in the hospital for five weeks. Gia and Timmy hid in the bathroom while paramedics were there, and then climbed out the window.
1975, several weeks later ~ Timmy Mills is arrested for causing or aiding a suicide.
1975 ~ Joe Petrellis’s suggests Gia meet his friend Jane Harris, former runway model. Harris taught an intensive modeling course several nights a week in the grand ballroom at the Bellevue Stratford hotel. The girls with the slightest promise would be trained in walking, runway, actual modeling techniques. Gia and her Aunt Nancy signed up. Gia age 15 yrs old.
1975 ~ Joe Petrellis does a second series of tests inside his home, more sophisticated poses and clothes. Gia 15 yrs old.
1976 ~ Gia becomes an Aunt for the first time. Her brother Joey has a daughter, Michelle Carangi, with his first wife. Gia is 16 yrs old. Michelle was the niece who moved in with Kathleen the day Gia died.
1976 ~ Gia’s younger brother is born. Her Father and Stepmother’s son. Gia is 16 yrs old.
1976, Spring ~ Gia answers Gimbels ad for amateur models. Michael Ahern Director of Fashion Photography for Gimbels.
1976 ~ Maurice Tannenbaum met Gia at age 16 in a gay club in Philly.
1976, Summer School ~ Gia finished her Junior year at the end of Summer School. Lincoln High School.
1976, Late Summer ~ Gia graduates from Jane Harris’s at the Bellevue
1976, Fall ~ Gia moved into the apartment over the Hoagie shop in Center City, on 12th & Chestnut, with her brother Michael, who had just graduated. She starts her Senior year in new high school, South Philadelphia High.
1977, Summer School ~ Gia graduated South Philadelphia High School upon completion of Summer School.
1977 Fall ~ Maurice Tannenbaum hires Sondra Scerca to do some work for him in the studio. One day he shows Sondra his book. (collection of photographic test shots) Sondra saw Gia’s photos, outdoor photos with crimped hair, and she knew she saw someone special. Sondra contacted her good friend Wilhelmina Cooper and said she had to see this girl. Two days later Maurice and Sondra take Gia, and his book, to NYC to meet Wilhelmina. Willy handed the contract to Sondra as they were leaving and said make sure it get’s signed.
1978, January ~ Gia signed with Wilhelmina’s Agency
1978 ~ February ~ Gia would stay at the Barbizon Hotel at Sixty-third and Lexington until she and her ex-lover/friend/roommate Suzanne found an apartment. (Sharon Beverly pseudonym in TOB) Gia hadn’t been 18 for an entire month yet.
1978, February ~ Test shoots at Wilhelmina’s studio with Maurice Tannenbaum and Bill Friedman, Sondra Scerca takes polaroids of Gia.
1978, February 22, Wednesday ~ Gia began her first “go-sees”.
1978, March ~ Gia 1st apartment, 350 East Sixty-second Street, Apt 3G, with ex-lover, friend, and now roommate, Suzanne Rodier. Suzanne got a job at the cosmetics counter at Fiorucci’s on Fifty-ninth Street.
1978, March ~ Ara Gallant meets Gia at Studio 54, two days later photographs her for Ambiance magazine, Gia’s first paid assignment with Wilhelmina.
1978, March ~ Seven days after Ambiance shoot, Gia go sees photographer Lance Staedler at his studio for test shoot. Photos that launched her career.
1978, May 17 ~ Elgort shoot Gia for Bloomingdales newspaper ad. Second paid job since coming to NY. Elgort takes on Gia as his new IT girl.
1978, end of May ~ Elgort did the first pictures of Gia for 1978 Harper’s Bazaar Italia. It was an outside shoot of tweed blazers and casual clothes for a fall preview.
1978, end of May ~ Day after Elgort shoot, Gia is sent to be seen by Chris von Wangenheim. Von Wangenheim had a combined beauty and fashion feature to shoot for Italian Bazaar the next week. He booked Gia.
1978 ~ May/June issue of Ambiance magazine came out.
1978, early June ~ Lizzette Kattan, fashion editor Harper’s Bazaar Italia books Gia for 3 day shoot with Chris von Wangenheim. Chris chooses the Citicorp building for location. Rooftop shoot with Ariella makeup, Maury Hopson hair. (for 1978 July/August double issue) Citicorp elevator shoot for Versace, Sandy Linter makeup, Maury Hopson hair. First time Sandy meets Gia.
1978, June Monday ~ Italian Bazaar booked Gia again for the day.
1978, June Tuesday ~ Gia did more Bloomingdale’s work with Elgort, finished too late to fill another Bazaar request.
1978, June Wednesday ~ Gia worked with Chris von Wangenheim for Bazaar again.
1978, June Thursday ~ Gia went to be looked over for a Bobby Brooks bathing suit ad.
1978, the next week ~ Chris VW booked her for one of his Vogue Patterns Assignments, for Scott Barrie new designer.
1978 ~ Several days after Citicorp session, Gia and Prudence Chris von Wangenheim’s studio shoot, both with veils, Gia topless. Published 1978 July-August Harper’s Bazaar Italia.
1978 ~ World Trade Center shoot with Chris von Wangenheim. FURS “The Wind-Chill Factor”, Alberto Fava makeup, John Sahag hair – Gia with Lisa Vale furs, Gia in brown fur. Published 1979 November Vogue US. * Gia and Prudence top of WTC NYC skyline. 1978 July-August Harper’s Bazaar Italia.
1978, June 19, Monday ~ Both Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar called for Gia
1978, June weekend ~ Gia left town to spend the weekend with Chris von Wangenheim and a skeleton crew on Fire Island, where they went to do some testing. Gia-Regine topless.
1978, June 26, Monday ~ Noon. US Vogue shoot with Arthur Elgort photographer. Gia meets and works with Way Bandy makeup artist for the first time. Way and Gia hit it off, he tells Scavullo about her. Gia’s Vogue debut, a beauty shot. Published 1978 October Vogue US.
1978, June 29, Thursday ~ Chris von Wangenheim shoot for Patterns
1978, June 30, Friday ~ Vogue US shoot, Furs, Stan Malinowski photographer. 1978 October Vogue US.
1978 ~ July/August issue of Harper’s Bazaar Italia double issue comes out.
1978 ~ August issue Ambiance magazine comes out.
1978, approx. July 18 ~ Lizette Kattan fashion director Harper’s Bazaar Italia booked Gia for 2 1/2 week trip to Europe. Gia had never left the country before. First shoot 1978, July Sunday ~ ROME: The first shoot, inside the Grand Hotel (where they were staying), Chris von Wangenheim, Gia and Julie Foster.
1978, July Monday ~ ROME: Inside the Grand Hotel again. The same clothes from Sunday’s shoot with Chris von Wangenheim are photographed for groupage by Patrick Demarchelier, with Gia, Kim Alexis and several other models. In the evening, Gia did a series of beauty shots with Chris von Wangenheim.
1978, July Tuesday ~ ROME: Gia shoots with Elgort, the girls of Alta Moda, each model had a bio page. Kelly Emberg, Nancy Donahue, Shaun Casey, Lisa Ryall, Donna Sexton, Michelle Stevens, Kim Charlton, Juli Foster and Gia.
1978, July 26, Wednesday ~ ROME: Gia does shoot with Patrick Demarchelier for Andre Laug hours before catching 7:30 plane to Paris.
1978, July Thursday ~ PARIS: Chris von Wangenheim evening shoot with Gia and Regine (his model wife) for Yves Saint Laurent and Dior.
1978, July ~ MILAN: Gia and Juli Foster shoot for Lancetti by photographer Jacques Malignon. ~Harper’s Bazaar Italia LOVED Gia. Owner “Peponi” went crazy over Gia during her Europe job for him. Lizzette and Peponi invite Gia to come to Capri and stay for Labor Day week, all expenses paid vacation, at his Capri castle.
1978, August 4, Friday ~ Gia leaves Milan, flies home to NYC.
1978, August ~ “The Eyes of Laura Mars” came out. Lisa Taylor model, John Sahag hairstylist, Joey Mills makeup artist acted in the movie. All of them worked with Gia.
1978 ~ September issue of Harper’s Bazaar Italia comes out.
1978, September 1, ~ Gia flies to Capri (by way of Rome and Naples) to stay for a week at Peponi’s castle, instead of her yearly Atlantic City trip with friends.
1978, September 14 ~ Gia, Lisa Vale (also a Philadelphian) and Lena Kansbod were booked for an Atlantic City shoot for Vogue. They modeled glamorous gowns in the Resorts casino, and $10,000 furs outside on the Boardwalk, trying not to look overheated. It was a pleasantly warm September afternoon, but the shots were for December.
1978, Fall ~ Gia and Sandy party at Harry King’s apartment, Harry videos them dancing and having fun. Gia is healthy.
1978 ~ October issue of Vogue US comes out. Gia’s VOGUE DEBUT!
1978 ~ November issue of Vogue US comes out.
1978 ~ November issue of Harper’s Bazaar Italia comes out.
1978 ~ November 16-20 ~ CALIFORNIA DESERT shoot with Chris von Wangenheim, four day shoot.
1978 ~ Winter issue of Vogue Patterns magazine comes out.
1978 ~ December issue of Vogue US comes out.
1979 ~ January issue of Vogue US comes out.
1979 ~ January issues of Italian Cosmopolitan comes out. Gia’s FIRST COVER!
1979 ~ January/February issue of Harper’s Bazaar Italia double issue comes out. Chris von Wangenheim photographer, Sandy Linter makeup, Marc Pipino hair.
1979 ~ early February, two week Caribbean yacht shoot for Glamour. John Stember and Bitten Knudsen.
1979 ~ February issue of Vogue US
1979 ~ March issue of Amica magazine, Gia cover
1979 ~ March issue of Beaute magazine, Gia cover
1979 ~ March issue of Glamour magazine
1979 ~ March issue of Vogue Italia
1979 ~ March issue of Vogue Paris
1979 ~ April issue of Glamour magazine
1979 ~ April issue of Vogue Paris, Gia cover
1979 ~ April issue of Vogue UK, Gia cover
1979 ~ April issue of Cosmopolitan US, Gia cover
1979 ~ May issue of Vogue US
1979 ~ May issue of NOVA (Brazilian Cosmo) Gia cover
1979 ~ May issue of Cosmopolitan Italia Gia cover
1979 ~ June issue of Vogue US
1979 ~ June issue of Glamour magazine
1979 ~ July issue of Vogue US
1979 ~ July issue of Glamour magazine
1979 ~ July issue of Cosmopolitan US
1979 ~ August issue of Vogue US
1979 ~ August issue of Cosmopolitan Italy
1979 ~ August issue of Cosmopolitan UK
1979 ~ August issue of Harper’s Bazaar US
1979 ~ September issue of Vogue US
1979 ~ October issue of Vogue US
1979 ~ September issue of Harper’s Bazaar US
1979 ~ October issue of Vogue Deutsch
1979 ~ October issue of Harper’s Bazaar US
1979 ~ November issue of Vogue US
1979 ~ November issue of Harper’s Bazaar US
1979 ~ December issue of Vogue US
1979, December ~ Gia does shoot with Avedon for Versace spring 1980 campaign. Met Alessandro Stepanoff male model.
Date? ~ Gia’s 2nd apartment, 127 Fourth Street, NYC East Village, “True North Union Square Building”. No roommate. Interview and photos taken here for “Philadelphia” magazine.
1979 ~ December issue of Philadelphia magazine. Gia COVER, and interview
1980, early January ~ Ten day shoot Pompano Beach spa for Vogue. John Stember, Francs Stein, Rex, Garren, and Kim Alexis.
1980 ~ January issue of Vogue US
1980 ~ January issue of Cosmopolitan US. Gia COVER
1980 ~ January issue of Glamour magazine
1980 ~ January issue of Philadelphia magazine, Gia COVER. Gia interview/article.
1980 ~ February 5, One week photo shoot for Vogue in St. Barts. Francesco Scavullo, Sean Byrnes, Way Bandy, Harry King, Kim Alexis and Jeff Aquilon.
1980 ~ February issue of Vogue US
1980 ~ February Vogue Italia
1980 ~ February Vogue Paris
1980 ~ March Vogue Paris
1980 ~ March Vogue US
1980 ~ March Cosmopolitan UK, Gia cover
1980 ~ March Linea Italiana magazine
1980, March 1 ~ Wilhelmina Cooper died of lung cancer. She was 41 yrs old. (DOB May 1, 1939)
1980, March ~ Gia said that after Willie died was the first time she really did heroin. She had snorted it, especially in Europe, where it was more popular and easier to get than cocaine. But after Willie’s death she started shooting it. Heroin use was quite open at the Mudd Club, especially the upstairs lounge. Friends have said that no matter where Gia was partying, she ultimately ended the night at the Mudd Club.
1980, April ~ Blondie’s “Atomic” video released; Gia appears briefly dancing
1980 ~ April issue of Vogue US
1980 ~ April issue of Vogue Italia
1980 ~ May issue of Vogue Deutsch
1980 ~ May issue of Vogue US
1980 ~ June issue of Vogue Deutsch
1980 ~ June/July issue of Vogue Paris double issue
1980 ~ July issue of Vogue US
1980 ~ July issue of Cosmopolitan US, Gia cover
1980 ~ July issue of Cosmopolitan UK, Gia cover
1980 ~ August issue of Vogue US
1980 ~ August issue of Gynaika magazine, Gia cover
1980 ~ August issue of Cosmopolitan Japan, Gia cover
1980 ~ August issue of Vogue Paris, Gia cover
1980 ~ August issue of Vogue US, Gia cover
1980 ~ Summer. Hamptons photo shoot with Francesco Scavullo for November Vogue US issue. Sean Byrnes, Harry King, Sandy Linter, Carol Alt, and Kelly LeBrock.
1980 ~ September issue of Vogue US
1980 ~ September issue of Vogue Deutsch
1980 ~ October issue of Vogue US
1980 ~ November issue of Vogue US
1980 ~ November issue of Harper’s Bazaar US
1980, November ~ Gia moves into apartment at 240 East 52nd Street, NY, NY 10022. She moved out four months later, February 1981, moved back to Philadelphia to give her first try at outpatient drug rehab.
1980 ~ December issue of Glamour magazine
1980 ~ 80/81 issue of Vogue Beauty/Health magazine
1981, January ~ Renato Grignaschi shoot for Vogue Italia COVER. Sandy Linter makeup. Gia and Sandy went to Key West FL afterwards, Sandy took the polaroids of Gia in the pool. Published 1981 February Vogue Italia.
1981 ~ February issue of Vogue Italia, Gia cover
1981, February 11 ~ Gia moved back to Philly for her first try at outpatient drug rehab. It was two weeks after her 21st birthday, almost 3 years to the day that she started modeling.
1981, March 9 ~ Chris von Wangenheim dies in a single-car crash while on holiday in Saint Martin.
1981 March 22, Sunday ~ Gia’s 1st arrest.
Police sees Gia speeding and crash into a fence, back up and take off… Gia takes cops on car chase. Finally gets arrested. The police said she smelled of alcohol, had fresh track marks and blood test showed the presence of cocaine.
1981 ~ May issue of Vogue Paris
1981 ~ June issue of Vogue US
1981 ~ June issue of Vogue Italia
1981 ~ June issue of GQ magazine
1981 ~ July issue of Vogue US
1981, Summer ~ Gia’s Dad and brothers permanently live in Atlantic City, NJ. A 90 mile one way trip from Kathleen’s in Bucks County PA, less than an hour drive.
They opened two Hoagie City locations in Atlantic City. One around the corner from Resorts Casino and one a block from Caesars.
1981, Early June ~ Gia almost burns down Kathleen’s house by making a fire in the fireplace without opening the flew and fell asleep on the couch because she was high on heroin.
1981, Summer ~ Gia develops a frightening abscess on top of her hand. (left hand)
1981, early August ~ Gia misses her Criminal court date for her first arrest, she was on a photo shoot in Egypt, on a yacht. A warrant was issued for her arrest, failure to appear.
1981, Fall ~ Gia’s first come back, signs with Elite. Gia continued living in Philly with Kathleen and commuted to NY for shoots.
1981, mid August ~ Kathleen files charges against Gia for stealing her belongings to buy drugs. Kathleen had hopes that the arrest would somehow get Gia help with her addiction. The Judge issues a warrant for Gia’s arrest, but she was never pursued.
Gia quickly moves out of Kathleen’s house and moves in with old Bowie friend *Toni O’Connor.
1981, late August ~ Gia’s 2nd arrest.
Gia and “*Toni O’Connor” went for a swerving joyride through Center City in Gia’s little red car and were pulled over by police at four-thirty in the afternoon.
When Gia’s name was run through police computers her outstanding warrants came up: since she had already posted a thousand dollars bail in her other case, she was released on her own recognizance, pending trials.
(One of the warrants was for failure to appear on her court date. One of the warrants was from when Kathleen pressed charges against Gia for theft.)
1982 ~ January/February issue of Harper’s Bazaar Italia double issue
1982, January 1 ~ Andrea Blanch photo shoot with fireplace
1982 ~ April issue of Harper’s Bazaar Italia
1982 ~ April issue of Cosmopolitan US, Gia cover
1982, April ~ After commuting for several months, Gia applied for an apartment in Greenwich Village, the same Horatio Street bldg. where Harry King lived.
1982, April 8 Thursday ~ 20/20 taping at Scavullo’s studio, Thomas Hoving interviewer. Sandy makeup, Harry King hair.
1982, April 9 Friday ~ Avedon/Versace shoot for Versace fall/winter 1982 campaign
1982, April 16 ~ Gia’s first sitting for German “Otto Versand” location shoot Newport Beach California.
1982, May 3 ~ Gia moved back to New York into her new village apartment 14 Horatio Street, NY, NY 10014. Her comeback certain enough that signing a lease on an apartment seemed justified. Henry helped her move her things. “Think I am going to love it here,” she wrote. “Cool out from the dope pal.” Life in the West Village was different than uptown or the just-emerging East Village. It was a friendly place to walk around, window shop, get coffee. It was more like the areas of Center City Philadelphia she had always liked. The buildings, and the people, seemed to be on a more human scale. Gia’s last address in NYC.
1982 ~ July issue of Vogue US
1982 ~ July issue of Harper’s Bazaar US
1982, Summer ~ Dawn Koss was friends with Gia since they modeled together for Gimbels as teens. Dawn goes to see her friend Elyssa Golden in New Jersey bringing Gia with her. Dawn introduces them.
Elyssa meets Gia for the first time. Gia was already a heroin addict.
1982 ~ September issue of Glamour magazine
1982 ~ September issue of Vogue US
1982 ~ September issue of Vogue Deutsch
1982 ~ October issue of Linea Italiana magazine
1982 ~ Fall/Winter issue of Cosmopolitan’s Super Diets & Exercise Guide, Gia cover
1982, December ~ Gia went to Philly for Kathleen’s birthday Dec 18. While at home, Kathleen took her to a surgeon to have abscess on hand taken care of.
1982 ~ Home video recorded in Atlantic City, by her dear friend, the late Jeffrey “Jeff” Sleppin. He was also a fashion photographer often employed by Ford Model. She’s with Elite at this time.
1982 ~ Bill King sitting in Germany
1982 ~ September issue Vogue US. Last US Vogue appearance.
1982 ~ Gia interviewed for “Scavullo Women” book. Published November 1982.
1983, January 6 ~ 20/20 airs ABC
1983 ~ Last Italian Bazaar sitting, Gia was unable to shoot because she was trembling so terribly. Gia had to be dope sick at this time.
1983 ~ February issue of Glamour magazine
1983 ~ April issue of Cosmopolitan Germany, Gia cover
1983 ~ April issue of Cosmopolitan Greece, Gia cover
1983 Spring ~ Gia leaves NY for the last time, moves in with Kathleen. Things weren’t good at Kathleen’s, so Gia and Elyssa decide to get a place together in Philly. Gia was still in a methadone program, but continued to use heroin at the same time.
1983 Fall ~ Gia moves to Atlantic city lived with her Father and Michael in the apartment over Hoagie City, Elyssa moves in with them.
1983 ~ August issue of Glamour magazine
1983 ~ October issue of Cosmopolitan Greece, Gia cover
1983 ~ November issue of Vogue Italia
1983 ~ December issue of Vogue Deutsch
1984 ~ Last time Sandy sees Gia.
1984, December 8th-ish ~ Gia entered Eagleville detox program as a welfare patient, stayed 2 weeks and left when her Aunt Barbara died in an auto accident.
1984, December 22 ~ Barbara Ann Adams (Kathleen’s sister) dies in a car crash. She was 37 years old. (DOB April 16, 1947) She was Gia’s favorite Aunt and everyone’s favorite sister.
1984 ~ Suzanne Rodier always kept in touch with Gia as much as she could. She had been living in California, but moves back to Philadelphia when her mother becomes Ill.
1985, early February ~ Kathleen and Nancy go to Gia and Elyssa’s in Atlantic City to insist Gia go to rehab. Several days later Gia is back in Eagleville.
1985, early February ~ Gia checks into Eagleville again. Elyssa: Gia never got caught, but she was sneaking phone calls, letters and visits with me, but she was clean the whole time.
1985, late May ~ Memorial weekend, Rob Fay entered Eagleville. Gia had already been there for four months by then.
1985, September ~ Gia completed the inpatient part of her program at Eagleville. Although her mother begged her to move home, Gia followed her therapists’ advice and moved in with recovering people in Norristown. She shared a fairly depressing apartment—on an unpaved alley just off Norristown’s main street—with two other recovering women from Eagleville, one of whom had lost an arm to an abscess.
Through Eagleville networking, she finally got a job, at just above minimum wage, as a sales clerk at Designs—a store that sold Levi Strauss products in the new wing of the King of Prussia Mall. Gia gets to try out being the “new Gia,” with seven months of sobriety and intense therapy.
1985, November 16 ~ Gia moves back in with Kathleen, wrote in her journal: “Hello Book, It is now Nov. 16. I am at my Mom’s again and feeling fuck-up. You see a quite odd thing happen … I fell in love with my counselor
Gia quit her job at the mall—one day she just didn’t show up for work, and was never heard from again—and tried to concentrate on moving forward. She contacted Elite and Scavullo’s studio to let them know she was alive, out of rehab, drug-free and thinking about doing some modeling in the coming year. She even called Lizzette Kattan, who had married well in 1983, left Bazaar and the business to Milan.
1985, December ~ Gia looked into a writing course at the community college and a photography course in Philadelphia. Gia goes to Atlantic City to visit Elyssa. Elyssa: We spent Christmas together, we were on our best behavior. Gia wouldn’t even drink the eggnog, she was completely straight. Gia said “I don’t want to do it, I don’t want to die.
Kathleen: “Right after Christmas, Gia came into my room one night,” recalled Kathleen. “She said, Mommy, look at my ear.’ I looked into her ear and it looked like big flakes. It looked like the stuff on her feet. All the time she was in rehab, she had some problem with her toes, like a rot. Her skin was also bad. Her skin had always been very clear and translucent. She had never worn makeup before going to New York, and her skin had reacted badly to all the makeup then, but it had cleared up after she stopped modeling. But now she had what looked like teenage acne. She also started saying she just didn’t feel right.”
Gia clipped whatever articles she could find in the newspapers and magazines about AIDS. She was convinced that there was something wrong with her.
Gia began having her suspicions throughout the winter and spring that she might have AIDS, but she did not display any other symptoms. She wasn’t quite ready to go back to New York and try modeling again, so she worked several different local jobs: first as a checkout clerk at the Acme, and later in the cafeteria of a nursing home.
1986 Winter ~ At some point during the winter, Gia began using drugs again. She called her counselor from Eagleville, with whom she was still doing a weekly group session, and informed her that she wouldn’t be coming anymore. Before each group session, patients had to give a urine sample. Gia knew that hers would be “hot.” She was discharged and her Eagleville case closed out.
Gia begins the hurtful and destructive behaviors that drug addicts that are using exhibit. She began sneaking into Elyssa’s apartment while she was at work, stealing things to pawn for money to buy drugs. Sometimes bringing a male drug buddy with her. All while she was getting sicker. Elyssa throws Gia out of the apartment. Gia goes back to Kathleen’s.
1986, January ~ The last time Gia used drugs. (source Rob Fay)
1986, May 27 ~ Memorial Day. By now Gia is convinced she had AIDS. She tried to tell her mother that she was ill, but Kathleen didn’t believe her.
Kathleen: On Memorial Day, Gia came to me and said “Mommy, I really have something wrong with me”. You could tell she was disturbed. It still bothers me that I just went about my business and went to work. After Gia had dinner with Henry, she headed to the Shore.
Before heading out, Gia stopped by her brother Michael’s place, to get all her things together. She pawned everything she could get her hands on. She sold her Fiat. With well over $2,000 Gia bought all the heroin she could afford and checked into a cheap hotel. Gia did her best to overdose on heroin, but was unsuccessful.
1986, May 30 ~ Perry Ellis dies of AIDS
1986 June ~ Gia sneaks into Elyssa’s again and hides under the bed. Elyssa finds her and Gia tells her she’s sick and has nowhere to go. “Elyssa, I think I have AIDS”. Elyssa: She didn’t look good, but AIDS wasn’t really around yet. Gia always had dark circles under her eyes, and her weight always shifted too. When Gia was on methadone it was up, on heroin she ate a lot of sweets. She just looked like she had been on a drug binge. I thought she was telling me had AIDS as one of her things to make me feel sorry for her. In the morning, she said she was going to get something for breakfast. I asked her if she needed money, she said no, stay there. What I didn’t know was that she had already taken all of my tip money from my jeans and she went off to buy drugs. She came back at two in the afternoon when she thought I was at work, but I was waiting for her. I tried to wrestle the dope out of her pocket, she tried to run out the door and I grabbed the shirt off of her, she ran out the door like that. I called the police on her. I wanted her brought home. The next thing that I heard was that she was in the Warminster General hospital in Philadelphia and that she had pneumonia.
1986, June ~ Gia was admitted to Warminster General Hospital. She had bilateral pneumonia, bone marrow depression with anemia from drug-related toxicity and extremely low blood cell counts. Gia was diagnosed with AIDS.
The period after Gia running from Elyssa’s and her being admitted to Warminster General Hospital was heartbreaking. Gia opened up to a nurse there according to the prologue in “Thing of Beauty” by Fried.
June 1986 Warminster General Hospital. Gia starts talking to a nurse at Warminster General Gia looked haggard, long hair covered her red eyes and broken-out cheeks.
Didja ever do it for money?” Gia asked.
“Do what?” asked the nurse.
“Y’know, sex. Ever do it for money?”
“No, of course not. Why?”
“I have,” Gia said lighting a Marlboro. “I’ve turned a lotta tricks. For drugs, y’know. You gotta do what you gotta do.”
The nurse didn’t doubt the truth of that statement. Gia’s young woman’s body had been violated in a half a dozen different ways. She had been addicted to heroin for a long time and attempted suicide with a massive overdose only weeks before. The bruises on her upper body suggested that she had been badly beaten up. She had recently been raped. She was suffering the effects of exposure from sleeping outside in the rain several nights before.
Gia had registered as a welfare patient in the Emergency Room of this Warminster General Hospital, a small suburban hospital outside of Philadelphia. Kathleen came to visit sometimes, but otherwise Gia seemed very much alone. At only twenty-six, she was one of the youngest street people the hospital had ever admitted. Turning tricks was probably the only way she could survive.
The nurse was encouraged that the young woman wanted to talk about anything. Gia had been severely depressed and mostly uncommunicative during her stay. She had been admitted to the medical wing for treatment of pneumonia and low white-blood-cell count. When blood tests revealed that she was HIV positive, she was placed in an isolation ward and treated gingerly, if at all, by personnel largely uninformed about the disease. Even though it was summer of 1986 and health care workers were supposed to know better, unfamiliarity was still breeding contempt. Some nurses and orderlies were donning rubber gloves or “space suites” before entering her room. They were wiping down her phone every time she used it, which only made Gia’s depression and suicidal feelings worse.
When Gia’s medical condition stabilized, she was put on Lithium and moved to the mental health wing. They hoped that she could get a handle on her depression and figure out where she would go after discharge.
It was a pretty bleak case history that filled Gia’s case file, not many positives to reinforce. So, if turning tricks for drugs was a topic that this extraordinary patient wanted to talk about, it was better than not talking at all, or crying, which was how she had been spending many of her days. So, Gia talked to the nurse about turning tricks, the junkie life, the shooting galleries, the filth, the sprawled out bodies. She talked about different types of heroin and how many bags the young woman usually shot.
The nurse told Gia how her daughter wanted to be a model. Gia told her “Don’t do it. Even if she wants it, don’t let her do it. I used to be a model. You don’t want your kid to be model.”
1986, June 26 ~ Gia was discharged from Warminster hospital with a prescription for more lithium, a referral to a local mental health center and the AIDS task force, and a prognosis of “Fair”. Gia’s stepfather didn’t want Gia to move back in, he was afraid of AIDS. Gia moves in with Dawn Phillips from Eagleville.
1986, Summer ~ Gia goes to Center City to get her hair cut by Maurice Tannenbaum. Maurice: Gia came in and she had lost about fifty percent of her hair. It was the first time I had seen her in awhile. She was obviously sick. In fact, I actually started hearing about two months before she died that she was dead.
1986, Summer ~ Gia’s stepfather Henry lets her move back home.
1986, Summer ~ Gia has a few follow up appointments with Oncologist Dr. Wilbur Oaks over the summer.
1986, August 13 ~ Way Bandy died of AIDS
1986, August 13 ~ Gia writes a letter to her Aunt Nancy that she never mailed. https://giacarangilivedhere.org/un-mailed-letter/
1986, Summer/Fall ~ Gia’s most immediate problem was persistent vaginal bleeding, a permanent period, which left her, among other things, severely dehydrated. She was put on birth control pills to try to stop the bleeding. When that wouldn’t work, a hysterectomy was considered. Since Gia was focusing more and more on childlessness as her biggest regret, the hysterectomy would have been an especially symbolic blow.
1986, October 18 ~ Gia went to her appointment at Hahnemann University Hospital to have tests done and see her Oncologist, Dr. Wilbur Oaks for a follow up office visit. He had no plans to admit Gia.
“She was indigent, on medical assistance,” recalled Dr. Oaks. “The AIDS patients are costly, and the end result is so grim, but we don’t turn anyone away. She was one of the very first we had, certainly the first woman. I had seen her over the summer a few times, and by the time she was admitted, her personality was strange. She was pretty much sociopathic at that point. She looked like she’d been through a hell of a lot. And it’s hard to know what you should do when they look like they’re in distress. “One thing we had to do was discuss the ‘code status’ with patients and family.” The code status—whether Gia would be put on life support if her health failed, if she “coded”—was, initially, an easy decision to make.
Gia had already expressed her desire not to end up on life support. It was agreed that, if the situation arose, there would be no unusual heroics employed.
Gia’s last week of life, no one was allowed to visit except Kathleen.
1986, November 18 ~ That morning, Kathleen and 9 year old granddaughter Michelle go to court for legal guardianship. Michelle moves in with Kathleen and Henry on the day Gia died. According to Michelle, right after court that morning, they went straight to the hospital. Gia passed away later in the day, not “around 10am” as published in “Thing of Beauty”. Rest in Peace sweet Gia.
1986, November 23 ~ Gia is laid to rest.
1988, April ~ In early April of 1988, the morning show AM Philadelphia did a segment on AIDS. After the program aired, co-host Wally Kennedy received a phone call from a viewer who had been touched by it. Kathleen Sperr. They decided to to a show with her.
Gia’s father called Elyssa before the show to let her know it would be on. He knew Kathleen. He knew she’d do anything to get on TV.
1988, September 14 ~ Two years after Gia’s death, Gia’s Father, Joe R Carangi died from an inoperable brain tumor, 64 yrs old. DOB May 18, 1924
1987 ~ Bill King photographer dies of AIDS
1987, April 22 ~ Gia’s Uncle Anthony Carangi died, 66 yrs old. (DOB January 30, 1921) Joe’s brother
1988, April ~ The morning show “AM Philadelphia” did a segment on AIDS. Gia’s mom Kathleen was watching and called in to the show. Soon afterwards, Kathleen appeared on the show and made Gia’s story public for the first time.
1988 ~ Gia’s cousin John died, 40 yrs old. (DOB Oct 13, 1948) Her Uncle Dan’s son.
1994, June 1st ~ Book “Thing of Beauty: The Tragedy of Supermodel Gia” by Stephen Fried
1994, November 25 ~ Elyssa Golden died of AIDS, 35 yrs old. (DOB February 27, 1959)
1994, November 27 ~ Gia’s brother Michael and wife Annalise in Australia, have a baby girl, named Vanessa Alexandra Carangi. Gia has been gone for 8 years.
1995, February 26 ~ Gia’s Stepfather Henry Sperr died, 59 years old. (DOB Dec 24, 1935)
1996, June ~ Gia’s Uncle Andrew John Carangi died, 77 yrs old. (DOB Oct 17, 1919) Her Father’s oldest brother.
1998, January 31 ~ HBO airs the movie “Gia” staring Angelina Jolie. Gia Carangi fan groups started forming all over the internet.
2001, April 22 ~ e! True Hollywood Story, Gia: Supermodel aired
2001, April 23 ~ ABC’s Vanished Shooting Star, with Elizabeth Vargas aired
2003, May 7 ~ “The Self Destruction of Gia” documentary was released.
2006, June 2 ~ Gia’s Uncle Daniel Carangi died, 82 yrs old. (DOB May 18, 1924) Joe Sr’s twin brother. Dan out-lived, and lived longer than all his brothers and parents.
2008, February 29 ~ Stephen Fried article “Thing of Beauty: How Gia Carangi carried the seeds of her own destruction”, published Philadelphia Magazine. https://www.phillymag.com/news/2008/02/29/thing-of-beauty/
2015 ~ Gia’s brother Michael’s only child, Vanessa Alexandra Carangi, died, 19 yrs old. (DOB Nov 27, 1994)
2016, November 11 ~ Gia’s Mother, Kathleen Sperr died, 80 yrs old. (DOB December 18, 1935)