William LoBrutto

Born in Torrington , Connecticut on December 5, 1931, Bill served honorably in the Navy where he met his forever bride, Angela Palazzotto. They married in 1953 and were married for 66 years when Angela passed away.

He lived in Torrington and was the consummate family man. Working for his father in the home building business, he became a master carpenter but felt the call of entrepreneurship and moved his family to Port St Lucie in 1970, where he switched careers and started a growing real estate business.

Bill was an incredible businessman, leading the charge of developing businesses within what was then a very small town of Port St Lucie. He was a mentor to many and a friend to all. Known as Bill Sr, Big Bill and Billy by his friends, he was an avid golfer, astute entrepreneur, a never-say-die Yankee fan, a connoisseur of Parodi cigars and a craftsman of remarkable talent. More important than the many people that called him friend, was his family. He was a devoted husband, Dad, Uncle and Grandfather.

He is survived by his son, Bill LoBrutto (Trish), daughters Tina LoBrutto and Diana Goldman and son Ross LoBrutto, as well as his grandchildren Jennifer, Matthew, Thomas, Michael Anthony, Dominic and Derek (DJ) and numerous great-grandchildren, nephews and nieces, all of whom felt his love and guidance in their lives.

Bill was predeceased by two brothers (Michael and Joseph) and one sister (Grace). His remaining brothers (Santo and Richard) and two sisters (Madeline and Joanne) are living in Connecticut.

Heaven has received a giant of a man who will continue to watch over his family and friends left behind.

Visitation will be 11AM Saturday, April 22 at Aycock Funeral Home, 1504 SE Floresta Drive, Port St Lucie. A brief service will begin at 12:30PM with burial at White City Cemetery immediately following the ceremony.

In lieu of flowers please make all donations in William's memory to Treasure Coast Hospice.

Here is my remembrance to Dad

So….

I’m supposed to wax eloquent about a life that was well lived. I can’t… I won’t be able to complete any sentences. What are the odds on me not making it through this??? Instead, I’d rather talk about someone that was born in an era that we look back on as an eerie moment in history… The town he was from was a community that took care of each other. There was every indication that Dad was a youngster that rebelled against the grain of the norm. I’m sure his parents had doubts that he would make it. According to some accounts, if his father was a little faster, he wouldn’t have. A pool hustler in a time when a proper young man didn’t frequent such places (his mother probably had multiple moments of despair over that!) A youth spent in enough questionable activities that I suspect his entry into the Navy wasn’t exactly voluntary?

During his time in the military… he met a Wave. A meeting of two people that had a fiery attraction for one another that would ultimately last for 66 years. By all accounts, the attraction was a whirlwind romance… and after a marriage and his voluntary exit of the Navy (I’m sure to the relief of many swabbies that had lost their shirts to him), he moved his little family back home to Torrington where he became a serious apprentice of the art of carpentry. He became a master at it.

But dealing with a job that did not pay enough to satisfy a desire for greater success than was available, he took on the task of learning one of the oldest arts in the world. (Not that one!!) When he started, he learned his lessons via cassette tapes by one of the most prolific sales experts of the time. He became a force to be reckoned with. It led to dragging a reluctant family 1000 miles to one of the most desolate Florida cities on the east coast. But… he didn’t see it as such. It was an opportunity to make himself known in a community that he believed would grow into much more than what mapmakers saw us in those days. (couldn’t even locate PSL on the map correctly) He started building a small but growing empire based on reliability, honesty and respect. He networked with people that were champing at the bit to expand the growing community that we now see as a powerhouse city.

Along the way, he showed people how to have fun… enjoy life, work hard when you work and play equally as hard when you play. His parties were legendary, his golf game and pool skills became admired by his friends. And… he loved baseball… his beloved Yankees were such a mainstay in his life and his love of the sport was so strong, he was willing to buy season tickets to the god-awful Mets in 1988 .when they moved to town. Tickets that to this day remain in the family courtesy of my little bro, Ross. Everyone in Section 107 knew him and whatever entourage he was bringing that day.

His business started in 1974… I came to him in 1975 pleading for him to hire me because I was too mouthy for other jobs and kept getting fired. I learned the business by stationing myself outside his door and listening to how he took care of people. He was the consummate salesperson. He knew that everyone had a goal in mind that walked through our doors. He taught us that it was our job to help make those goals possible. If they walked out without fulfilling their goal, it was likely our fault. He was driven and kept the dream alive in all his associates he brought into the fold. Including me. He made sure that I was held to a higher standard than others in his organization. I sometimes rebelled vociferously against this obvious bias… I never won. Our fights were epic. But… He made me want to learn to be better. Everyone who walked into his sphere of influence and stayed for any amount of time came out better for it. His lifelong friends and his children are but a small example of who he touched over the years. I have heard from people in the last few days that I haven’t seen in 30+ years. All had similar words of fond remembrance of a man’s man that knew the meaning of compassion.

So… this is a fond farewell to a human being that knew the import of empathy not sympathy… diligence not complacency, integrity not fakery and finally … family. We are all a product of his artistry. How is that you say? Imagine a potter sitting in front of his mound of clay and slowly molding what will be a masterpiece. We are his masterpiece. A loving family… a circle of friends all coming together to continue his legacy.

Goodbye Dad. We will continue to try and live up to your legacy.

From Son, Bill.