Albert M. Esposito

Albert M. Esposito passed away on Tuesday, June 7, 2022, days after his ninety-second birthday, signing off on a life well lived and with few regrets. His family and friends were left in disbelief that he was unable to negotiate an extension of time because, as he stated, he needed to go to work and get on with life.

Albert was anything but conventional. Married in 1955, in the era of “Father Knows Best”, Al had his own ideas on parenting and marriage. Famously known for needing very little sleep, he never kept regular business hours and would come and go at will. But when he was around the spark of his energy and varied interests was electric. It was impossible not to be seduced by his lack of rules and delight in simple pleasures. In the summer, he took his “three girls” for rides to the roadside fruit stand to buy bags of cherries and taught them to spit the pits out of a moving vehicle. He took joy in bending rules and getting a laugh. More was always more. He would pile the kids into the back of the station wagon for yet another viewing of “True Grit” at the Drive-In theatre. When the Good Humor truck came around Al bought boxes of ice cream to the delight of a gang of friends and neighbors. He played Pinochle into the wee hours and took late night runs to New Haven for Pepe’s pizza and the newsstand to pick up tomorrow’s papers. Tomorrow was always more interesting than today and Al wanted to get there first.

Speaking of paper, he collected it. He loved nothing more than a pile of newspapers such as the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and Barron’s, and never thought to throw them out. He compiled his thoughts on yellow legal pads with phone numbers, “to-do” lists and work obligations. Pads and newspapers were Al’s laptop.

Then there was his attention span. Famously lacking, he lost his cellphone, car keys, legal pads and newspapers multiple times a day and enlisted everyone as search party. Once in his orbit you wondered how he managed. Time was a construct that did not apply to a man who was famously late for everything and over scheduled.

In the early 1970s, Albert discovered his true calling and life-long passion. He discovered Palm Coast, which was then a collection of model homes with the promise of a community to come. A sales pitch. Nevertheless, he fell hard. He moved from Connecticut to begin his life in Flagler Beach and Palm Coast. There was no looking back. Only looking forward.

Al was proud of his family, his “three girls” Georgie Esposito Lowe, Alyssa G. Esposito (Robert T. Golia) and Pamela Esposito DellaPorta; godson Michael Belfonti; three beloved grandchildren, Alix C. Dermer, Julien M. DellaPorta and Felicia A. Lowe; and his life partner and love Delphine Meyers. His legacy to his family is a profound interest in food, dance parties, sarcasm, silly puns, westerns, fierce independence, unsurpassed work ethic, grit and resilience. To quote Al, “Every ‘no’ gets you closer to a ‘yes’”; “Just tell your mind to tell your body that you are fine”; “Get up and go to work.” His life force remains engrained in our marrow.

The family is grateful for the loving care and companionship provided by Delphine Meyers for over fifteen years.

A Memorial Mass celebrating Al’s life will be Saturday, June 18, 2022 at Santa Maria del Mar Catholic Church in Flagler Beach.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Al’s memory to the JDRF by sending donations to:

In memory of Albert Esposito

JDRF Greater New England Chapter

60 Walnut Street, Suite 101B

Wellesley Hills, MA 02481

Or online, by clicking the link below.