William S. Gasparrini

William Gasparrini of 23 Oak Street, a prominent local businessman, died Friday, January 6, 2012 at Greenwich Hospital surrounded by family and friends. He was born in Greenwich to William Gasparrini and Beatrice Cristiano Gasparrini on October 29, 1927 and is survived by his wife of 53 years, Janice Smith Gasparrini. He was the owner of the Post Road Iron Works, a local iron and steel fabricating business that he was instrumental in expanding from the small blacksmith shop started by his father in 1927 to a large commercial enterprise employing over 70 people. He was active in the Greenwich community and national organizations and pursued a lifelong interest in sports.

After graduating from Greenwich High School in 1946, Mr. Gasparrini joined the Army and was stationed in Japan with the First Cavalry Division. He became an Army athletic director and was boxing champion of his division. While in the Army he played with the All Japan football team. Returning home he attended Cheshire Academy and later Clarkson Institute of Technology where he played varsity football.

He joined his father’s business, the Post Road Iron Works in 1950 and was president until his retirement in 1999. He became chairman of the board in 2000. The company produces architectural, ornamental, structural and other miscellaneous metal work for both residential and commercial high-rise buildings. Mr. Gasparrini was prominent in the steel industry as he increased the operations at the Post Road Iron Works securing major contracts for steel construction in the metropolitan New York area. The organization that he inherited from his father was greatly expanded from a small family business to a major competitor in the region, recently fabricating railings for the new Yankee Stadium and the structure for the 9/11 Memorial.

Locally, Mr. Gasparrini was active in the greater Greenwich community. He served on the board of directors of the Greenwich Chamber of Commerce. He was a member of the board of directors of the Greenwich YMCA, served as vice president of the board and was named Volunteer of the Year in 1982. He was a member of the Improved Order of the Red Men, Greenwich Tribe, from 1954 and served as president and state treasurer as well as Great Sachem (state president). He served on the executive committee of the Historical Society of the Town of Greenwich and was named Volunteer of the Year in 1993. In 1987 he was chosen by the Port Chester-Rye Brook-Rye Town Chamber of Commerce as Man of the Year for his efforts in promoting economic development of the village. He was honored by the Greenwich Old Timers Association for his lifetime interest in sports at the 41st annual awards dinner in 2001.

Mr. Gasparrini was active in his profession on a national level. He was secretary-treasurer of the Artist Blacksmith Association of North America from 1975-1980. He was a prominent member of the National Ornamental and Miscellaneous Metals Association (NOMMA) for many years serving as president, vice president, treasurer and member of the board of directors. He was chairman of the Standards Committee where, under his leadership, the committee developed national standards for railing systems that were adopted across the country by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), American Society for Testing of Materials (ASTM) in cooperation with the National Bureau of Standards and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Among the many awards he received from NOMMA, he was given the Distinguished Service Award, the President’s Award, and the Julius Blum Award in 1980, which honors the person who has done the most for the iron works industry in the United States during that current year. In addition his firm has won the NOMMA Top Job award numerous times. As a founding member of the National Ornamental Metal Museum located in Memphis, Tennessee he was the original historian, member of the board of trustees, elected vice president of the board in 1984, and ultimately chosen First Trustee Emeritus in 1987 which has continued to the present.

From 1987 to 1996 Mr. Gasparrini was active in the efforts to retrieve artifacts from the wreck of the Titanic as a partner in RMS Titanic Inc. As a result of numerous expeditions, nearly 5,000 artifacts from the Titanic debris field were retrieved and many exhibited across the country. One of his most memorable experiences was his participation in the 1994 expedition to the Titanic wreck site when Mr. Gasparrini, aboard a deep diving submersible, visited the Titanic site 12,600 feet below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean.

Mr. Gasparrini was a generous and loving uncle to his nieces and nephews and their families. He regularly entertained them at his Greenwich and Acapulco homes and encouraged his extended family and many friends to visit. He always made time within his busy schedule to attend family sporting events, celebrations and holiday gatherings.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, the former Janice Smith. In addition to his wife he is survived by his sisters Marie Gasparrini Carriero and Anna Gasparrini Michaud. He is predeceased by his brother Joseph Gasparrini. He is also survived by his nieces and nephews, Peter Carriero, presently president of Post Road Iron Works, Roger Carriero, Claudia Carriero Ridberg, William Gasparrini, Joseph Gasparrini, Laura Gasparrini Peters, John Gasparrini, William Michaud, Suzanne Michaud Diddel and Tom Michaud as well as many grand nieces and nephews.

Visiting hours will be on Tuesday, January 10 at Leo P. Gallagher & Son Funeral Home, 31 Arch Street Greenwich from 4-8 PM. A funeral mass will be celebrated at St. Roch Church, 10 St. Roch Avenue, Greenwich on Wednesday, January 11 at 10 AM. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in his name to St. Roch Church or a charity of your choice.