Carmelo Serpe

Carmelo was born on March 5, 1936, in the town of San Fili, in the province of Cosenza, in the region of Calabria in Italy. Carmelo was the youngest of four sons of the late Eugenio and Concetta (born Aiello) Serpe. As a boy in San Fili, Carmelo learned the ethic of hard work, first starting in carpentry and then training as a tailor under the apprenticeship of a master tailor. At age 13, his first assignment was for a priest. Having fallen in love with the art of tailoring and the joy of serving customers, he inevitably became a master tailor himself.

Carmelo immigrated to the United States in 1954, embarking on his extraordinary life in the United States. A lifelong student of literature, cinema, politics, and history, Carmelo immediately immersed himself in American culture and the English language. Soon after immigrating, he proudly became a naturalized American citizen (subsequently regaining dual citizenship many years later), and devoted his talents, intellect, and civic mindedness to serving his community.

In 1959, it was love at first sight, when Carmelo met Carmela Maurizio at an Italian dance held in a ballroom at the historic Hotel Diplomat in Manhattan. Carmelo rejoiced in recounting how the entry fee was the best four dollars he had ever spent! In June 1960, Carmelo and Carmela married in Yonkers, NY. They began their life together in Stamford, CT, and subsequently raised their three children – Gino, Luciano (Lou), and Silvia – in Greenwich, CT. They proudly built and lived in two homes – first in Cos Cob and, later, in Stamford.

Carmelo was a fixture in community affairs and the Italian-American community. He was active for over 65 years in the San Fili Fraternity Club—where he served as President for two years and as a board member for over 50 years—and with the Kensico Italian-American Society, Inc. He took significant pride in serving in committees that provided college scholarships to Italian American high school students. He was also a proud resident of Cos Cob. On several occasions, he was approached by party officials to run for local government (RTM). He led the campaign to have Cos Cob Avenue paved for the first time in history, creating road safety for the residents and their families, and fervidly helped with the “Save Cos Cob School” movement in the 1970s.

Thousands of Connecticut residents came to know Carmelo as the master tailor he was. In the early 1960s, when he owned Serpe Brothers with his brother Giuseppe on Bedford Street in Stamford, they introduced the concept of a tuxedo rental business. Carmelo then worked as a master tailor at Van Driver in Greenwich for over 22 years. He spent the last 10 years of his career as a master tailor at Family Britches in New Cannan, along side his brother, David (another master tailor).

Carmelo lived his life with an incredible passion. With his characteristic energy, warmth, and profound interest in many things, Carmelo enjoyed photography, music, and playing cards. He read avidly—consuming books on science, history, politics, international relations, philosophy, and astronomy. He talked with everyone and anyone, and they loved talking to him. He exuded deep passion and joy for people and for his friends and family. He and his wife Carmela traveled extensively, nationally and internationally, including visiting his beloved Italy many times. And more than anything, Carmelo loved dancing with his wife and did so frequently. They danced through the ups and downs of life devoted to one another.

Carmelo is survived by his wife of nearly 66 years, Carmela; his three children, Gino (San Diego, CA), Luciano (and wife Somer) (Great Barrington, MA), and Silvia (NYC); and his granddaughters Isabella, Mia, Sabina and Elena.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Leo P. Gallagher & Son Funeral Home, 31 Arch Street, Greenwich, CT 06830.

Family and friends are invited to celebrate Carmelo’s long and rich life at a Mass on Thursday, May 21, 2026, at 12 p.m. at St. Catherine of Siena Church, 4 Riverside Avenue, in Riverside, CT 06878, followed by entombment at St. Mary’s Cemetery, 35 Parsonage Road, Greenwich, CT.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Alzheimer’s Association (https://www.alzfdn.org/donate/) or Dementia Society of America (https://www.dementiasociety.org/).