Name: Mariposa Gardens Memorial Park & Funeral Care
Address: Mesa, AZ


Well there is never a good time for somebody to pass away, but I have to hand it to my Grandpa, his timing was impeccable.  When I lived here, we laughed at my family in Oregon, because there were 22 inches of snow at my parents house in December of 2008.  We talked about how much we hate snow.  Turns out, Portland is now having its biggest snowstorm since that time.  So, Grandpa, thank you for getting me away from that junk.

I always would say about him that he would never die, as "Heaven wouldn't take him and the Devil was scared to death of him."  Turns out that was not true, not because he did indeed pass, but because the logic was flawed.  There is no way that Heaven wouldn't welcome a man who was able to bring so many people together to celebrate his life.  My grandpa was a man amongst men.  In spite of his large, impossing appearance, he was nothing more than a gentle giant, who put his family above everything and everybody else.    I cannot think of a man who was prouder of the family he was the patriarch of than he was.  His door was always open, his ears always willing to listen and his advice always freely offered, even if it wasn't solicited.

I have so many fond memories of Grandpa.  The ones that always bring me joy and make me smile the most were the summers spent visiting him and Grandma in AZ when my family still lived in NJ.  It was in these times that I learned how to swim.  That I first visited the Grand Canyon.  My one and only trip to Disneyland, all of us packed tight in Grandmas new big ole Cadillac.  There were bbq's on the back patio and family dinners at the table.  Dessert was always a trip to Farrels for Bubble Gum Ice Cream.  But for me, the coolest thing was that our first stop after the airport was Grandma taking us to see Grandpa at work.  We could never wait for him to get done with work before seeing him.

As time went on and I grew older, the trips to AZ stopped.  Not out of desire, but because life seemed to get in the way.  School and jobs and relationships have a funny way of doing that.  When I was about 25 or so, I grew tired of life in Oregon and remembered that he would say that he always had room for his grandson in AZ.  One day I called him and took him up on that offer.  Being that I am not a big risk taker, picking up and moving across the country would never have happened if not for his welcome arms.  But more than just letting me crash at his house until I got settled, he helped me find work out here without me even knowng.  He asked his Budweiser reps at one of his bars if they could use their pull to get me hired on, even before I had an application filled out.  What seemed like a dream job has turned in to a career for me.  For that I am forever grateful.

I will never be able to put a price on the last year and a half that I lived in AZ.  After a fallout with a roommate, I asked if I could come back to stay until I could find a new place to live.  What was only supposed to be a 30 day stay, turned in to much more.  Grandma and Grandpa, growing older and experiencing more health issues, asked that I stay with them because they felt safer.   I learned so much about the two of them in that time.  And while it wasn't exactly the best living arrangements for a single 30 something guy, I wouldn't trade those days away for anything.  

There are so many things I am going to miss about that guy:

-I am sure I will never be called 'Mick a lootz' again in my life
-The way he would sneak up and rub my ear
-Our weekly Saturday lunches at Mattas
-The way he would watch WWE wrestling religiously and yell at the TV as if he really thought it was real
-Our trips to the casino and the way he would make sure I never told Grandma how much he really won
-Him sitting at the head of the table at every holiday dinner
-How he would scare the hell out of me every time I got in a car with him...let's face it, the speed limit was merely a suggestion to him
-Running to DQ to get him and grandma strawberry milk shakes
I could go on and on and on....

Those who are closest to us know that he was not a happy camper when I met my eventual wife and moved back to Portland almost 4 years ago.  I think that he thought I was making a mistake.  And while he never outright said so, I have to think that after talking to him this past Christmas Day, that he finally was happy for me.  He gushed about the Christmas card that we sent him, telling me how happy my family looked and how pretty my wife and step daughter are.  His last words to me that day were, give Taylor a big hug and kiss for me.  Tell her it's from your grandpa.  And while we spoke a couple more times between then and his passing, those words will forever stay with me.

Disney and Pixar and the like would lead us all to believe that angels only come in small, dainty shapes and sizes, but let's not kid ourselves.  All of us in this chapel today have our own 300ish pound angel in Heaven now. 

To all his friends and family here today, may you all keep his memory and spirit alive in your hearts...

To my mom, my aunts Doreen and Rhonda and my Uncle John, may you continue the traditions and the examples he set for you with your families...

To Grandpa, may you continue to smile upon us, may you keep us safe and may you Rest In Peace...

I Love You
Michael

My Dad was always larger than life. It was not because he was 6 foot tall and 300 pounds. You knew immediately when he walked into a room, it just lit up! He had a loud voice and when he was talking normally, it always seemed like he was yelling.

Most of you know that Hugo and I wanted to tell you things you might not know about him.

My Dad had to drop out of school to work and help support his family.  His Dad worked in a rubber factory and his Mom worked in a sweatshop, so his first job was in a factory. It only lasted one day, he hated it! He got up every morning and pretended to go to work.  When payday rolled around his mother asked him for his money and he had to admit he quit after the first day.  His mother was furious and called his cousin Jim. His cousin was a tile contractor and took him under his wing and taught him how to set tile.  He was working with his hands and it was something he very much enjoyed and was good at.

He and a friend opened a tile business. They were both working and the partner was supposed to be taking care of the books.  In the meantime, my Dad had met and married my mom and when they returned from their honeymoon, he found out he was $75,000 in debt.  His partner was spending time in the gin mills and not paying attention to business.  He got his creditors together and told them he would pay back every cent he owed.  They said he would have to open up a business in his own name. And the Hugo Pulzato Tile Co was born.  My Mom said he worked everyday day and night for two years. They ate a lot of hot dogs and to this day he loved having baked hotdogs, pork and beans and french fries. 
I came along and he called me his good luck charm.  He said when I arrived business got better and he had to hire people which freed him up to go and get work.  He employed family members, father and sons, brothers. One of my cousins wrote that my Dad taught him a trade, which still comes in handy. He also was involved in a second chance program where he hired people getting out of prison. It was a responsibility that he took very seriously.  There were a lot mouths to feed and payroll to meet. This was the early 60's and he was ahead of his time, offering hospitalization and paid vacations to employees.

When he married my Mom, she was a widow and had a daughter Priscilla. He had the experience of blended families before it became the norm.  My mother's first husband's side of the family accepted my dad and the rest of us as we each came along.  I had extra aunts and uncles and a grandmother.  I could remember on each holiday, my Dad took Priscilla to visit her father's grave.  He said that Priscilla's Dad was a good man and he wanted to make sure she knew that.  Even today, our cousin Drew called my Dad Uncle Hugo and they would go to lunch together. My Dad considered Pris one of his own.

My Dad loved people and parties.  He threw lots of parties.  There was always a birthday, anniversary, christening, first communion or confirmation.  A party involved keg of bear, catered sandwiches and salads and sheet cake from local bakery. It had to be whipped cream, he did not like butter cream.  Since my mom had eight brothers and sisters, there was always plenty of family around. 

My parents loved the ocean, so much so that they bought a summer home before they had their own home. It was bought on a whim and a prayer, but it provided many memories for not only our immediate family, but also relatives who have written to me in the last week about their fond memories of the shore.  We have super eight films of my Dad and uncles from back in the early 60's of them riding the waves on rafts and everyone had a big smile on their face.  We had many good times, but my dad also shared with me that it was a lonely time for him.  My mom took us down the shore for the whole summer and my dad would come visit on the weekends.  He said it was very hard being by himself during the week.  To this day, he never liked being alone.  

My parents had another set of friends at the shore and the parties continued.  My Dad bought a bought a boat and I loved to go crabbing with him and his friends. He always made sure I had my favorite soda called Squirt to drink while they drank their Rolling Rock. The men would also go out and get fresh clams and mussels.  When you pick the clams and mussels yourself you have to clean them with a wire brush before opening and eating.  The wire brush would take the skin right off the tips of my Dad's fingers.  A laundromat had opened up nearby and he had the idea of taking the clams and mussels to get laundered.  Well it did not work out too well and I pity the poor guy who went in the next day to clean the machines.

As my Dad's business expanded he needed more space. We were living in a flat downstairs from my grandparents and he ran his business out of the basement. He rented warehouse space 2 blocks away that was vacated by Orange Crush.  The warehouse was a two story building with basement which allowed him to start stocking tile and had 8 car garage which allowed him to purchase and park on site the trucks for his business. In front of the building was a large house that old man Reinhardt lived.  He only lived in about two rooms and had the rest of the house blocked off.  Each night after dinner my dad would go up and check on the property and one night he found old man Reinhardt passed out.  He called an ambulance.  Eventually old man died and his son, George was the new owner of the property and because of what my dad had done for his dad, decided to sell the whole piece of property to my dad and mom.  The property took up a whole side of a block.  Us kids had a warehouse to play in and a huge backyard.  I cannot tell you how many windows we broke in that warehouse and my dad never got mad, just fixed them.  

My dad was an altar boy and had belonged to the Roman Catholic Church.  After he got divorced from his first wife, he got excommunicated.  My mother's church, the Polish National Catholics welcomed him with open arms.  He just did not join the church.  He ran it for several years.  It was an open joke about the guinea running the polock church.  He and my mom loved to bowl.  He sponsored several bowling teams for the church.  He also ran many a spaghetti dinner and beefsteak dinner as well as the annual church picnic to raise funds for the church.  One fundraising activity was a  mystery bus ride.  People would buy a ticket.  They would go one place for dinner and another for entertainment and drinks would be served on the bus.  He never had any trouble filling up the bus and the entertainment might have included a night at the burlesque.  He helped raise enough money to renovate the church and the paintings done on the ceiling were recreations of the Michael Angelo paintings in the Sistine chapel. To this day, I remember it as one of the most beautiful churches with a marble altar, reminiscent of a European church.

My dad was also an usher in church and he kept the front pews open for the little old ladies to sit. He would escort them down the aisle as if they were VIPS. In return these women would come make pirogies for fundraisers. 
  
When we moved out here, there was no polish national church and I remember one Easter he flew a retired priest and his family out here so we could have sunrise service in our backyard on Easter morning.  He tried to get a church out here but there were not enough people.

My Dad loved to play cards when he was younger.  My aunts and uncles would come over for nickel and dime poker.  They rotated houses each week.  This also revolved around a meal and coffee and… Sometimes they got into arguments over these games and did not talk to each other for weeks at a time.  However, the ones that are left were still talking to my Dad.  Except, these days, he could not hear very well and when anyone called he would hand the phone to Mary and communicate through her.  My Mom's sisters said to say hello to you Mary and thanks for putting up with those calls.

He had a love for life and when he went under surgery for various ailments, he would tell the doctor, “Hey doc, I am not ready to die so make sure you fix me up good.”  When he had stents put in his stomach, a 2 hour surgery turned into about 6 hours because of his weight, the doctor came out, sat down took his glasses off and put them away. He was exhausted and said it was a difficult surgery and he had learned a lot, but was under a lot of pressure because of what my Dad had told him.  He never gave up until he fixed him up good.  Well, the doctor could not fix up my Dad this time.  My nephew Michael said my Dad was never going to die because Heaven did not want him and the Devil was afraid of him.  Well I would like to think that there was an opening in Heaven for a tile setter that only he could fill.

My Dad loved his family deeply and would do anything for his children and grandchildren. He called me every morning since my Mom passed away and when I think of him I play one of his messages and I know he is okay because he tell me he is!

With that being said, I love you Dad and will miss you very much.

Synopsis of life read by Rev. Smith:  Hugo Pulzato was born to Eva and John in 1930.  They were both factory workers who came to the US from Italy.  He had an older brother, Emil, who said Hugo was a handful. Anyone who ever met him never forgot him.  He learned from his cousin Jim how to set ceramic tile and that became his life's vocation.  He took time out and served in the Army during the Korean War. After the war, he met Helen and got married. They had four children and opened their own tile business in New Jersey and operated the business from the family home until 1977. Helen was a great support to him in all his business ventures. They both enjoyed the sun and ocean and purchased a summer home on the Jersey shore where the family spent their summers.  He moved the family to Arizona because he had back problems and needed to be in a dryer climate. In 1978, he along with a partner got into the import and distribution end of the business and opened Valley Ceramic Tile.  They sold that business in 1995 and he retired.  In the meantime, he along with his son had opened Spook Hill Sports Lounge.  This gave him somewhere to go everyday.  He loved being in the kitchen, not only preparing food but also eating it! He also loved being around people.  Anyone who came in was engaged in conversation by Hugo.  When he entered a room, everyone knew! Three sports bars and twenty years later, it was time to move onto the next phase of his life.  He and Helen were able to get out everyday.  He liked to dine out and knew the owner and kitchen staff of every restaurant he went to.  He enjoyed spending time with all members of the family, no matter what age they were.  Each grandchild could probably tell you a story or two about their experiences with him. As a matter of fact, anyone that knew him probably has a story or two themselves.  Helen passed away in 2010 and Hugo joined the senior center and met Mary there.  They continued to go to the senior center and maintained a circle of friends. He enjoyed going to Missouri and meeting her family and had plans to go back this May. It was not to be, for the Lord had other plans.

Condolences to the Pulzato family on your losing your beloved Hugo. I knew Hugo  when he ran Valley Ceramic tile I worked next door at Cadillac Plastics and just about everyday would come in and " bust our chops" on something in the news or what ever. Yes a big man and even bigger heart.
I would like to share a story about Hugo which I am sure there are many. This story is about Hugo's lead foot and love of baseball. Valley Ceramic Tile was on E. University Dr. in Phoenix off of 24th. Street an industrial area and not much traffic, speed limit was 25 mph. I think Hugo was going much faster Didn't see the motorcycle cop behind a hedge and was surprised to find the cop behind him when Hugo parked in front of his shop, Of course the cop asked what the reason was for speeding than changed the conversation to why here was a baseball bat in the back seat. Hugo's answer was when he got stressed out he would go to the batting cage to hit a few balls. I am not sure if was really why the bat was there but the cop bought the story anyway and also no ticket just a waring to slow down. Hugo never did slow down. Rest in peace Hugo your a good man.
                                                                                 Allan Anderson, Phoenix, AZ.

Hugo was a client of mine for 10 years. I'm sad to see those years come to an end but I'm glad he is at peace. Hugo will be greatly missed. Thanks for 10 loyal years of service and friendship. I'm glad you're not suffering anymore.

condolences to  the pulzato family I will miss you uncle hugoand the happiness you createdin the family,and you taught me a trade that comes in handy todayfor me dan.

I miss you already!!  I miss Hey Laur !!! I miss the phone ringing at 8:15-8:30 a.m." Where's John?', I treasure the memories of this years Christmas gift exchange you were in rare form!!,  I love that I see my husbands face in pictures of you when you were younger, I wish I could hear your stories one more time even though I have heard them a thousand times, especially shutting down the Lincoln Tunnel !!  Saturday we will say goodbye, but I will miss you always.  I love you.    Laurie

Hugo was truly a man among men, I knew him and Mary Dow for a short while, and when ever we met he would shake my hand and say nice things, I will miss him. As big a man that he was in stature is how great his heart was.
Sam Rutstein (Mesa, AZ)

My Condolences to Rhonda and the Pulzato family. You will be in my prayers and thoughts..God Bless!

Rest in peace Uncle Hugo..  I'll never forget the fun times at the beach, the family poker games, your visits to Florida, and my few visits to Mesa. I'll miss you..

Love,
 Jim Paulitska

OBITUARIO

Hugo Charles Pulzato

26 febrero, 1930 – 30 enero, 2014

Mariposa Gardens Memorial Park & Funeral Care

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