Theodore "Ted" Boccuzzi

Ted was born in Stamford to Raffaele Boccuzzi and Carmella (Ottaviano) Boccuzzi on April 3, 1935. He married Gloria J. McManus on January 7, 1961 in Stamford, CT.

Ted attended Stamford Public Schools. At Stamford High School Ted was on the 1952 State Champion football team. He also ran track where he won virtually all dual meet 100 and 200 yard dashes, the javelin, and running broad jump events. He still holds the Stamford High School and FCAIC record for the 100 yard dash of 9.6 seconds, a record which still stands 69 years later. Upon graduating from Stamford High, he attended Kiski Preparatory School in Saltzburg, PA where he played starting fullback on their undefeated football team and ran track.

In 1954, he attended Colgate University. At Colgate he lettered in football and captained both indoor and outdoor track teams. He earned honorable mention All East for his efforts as halfback holding the record for the most carries for a year at Colgate.

Teds track team won many indoor one mile relays at Madison Square Garden as well as the Penn Relays. He was undefeated in dual meet sprints at Colgate, and he still holds the fifth (5th) fastest time for the 200 meter dash and the eighth (8th) fastest time for the 50 meter dash.

Ted was nominated as “who’s who” among students in American Colleges and Universities in 1957.

Ted worked in several campus jobs while lettering three sports and holding membership in Delta Upsilon Fraternity.

Shortly after graduation from Colgate, he was drafted into the US Army and was deployed to Korea. While in the US Army, he competed in the First Army track meet at Fort Devens, MA, winning and placing in the 100 and 200 yard dashes as well as the javelin throw. After his showing, Ted was sent to Fort Lee, VA to try out for the 1960 Olympics. He enjoyed skiing, played handball, squash, tennis and golf in his later years.

Ted worked in the Cosmetics, Fragrance, Health and Beauty Aids Industry for most of his career. Ted was part of the teams that launched Brut for Faberge’, Polly Bergen Cosmetics and Calvin Klein Cosmetics. In 1979, he and his beloved wife Gloria founded Advanced Distribution Systems, Inc., a contracting and warehousing distribution company that currently has four (4) facilities, employs 200 workers and ships goods to retailers and individuals throughout the world. While running ADS, he consulted and launched many cosmetics brands and fragrances, most notably Bobbi Brown Cosmetics and Cassini Parfums.

He is past president of the Cosmetic and Fragrance Buyers and Suppliers Association, was a member of the Fragrance Foundation, and a Hall of Fame inductee of NJ Packaging Executives Club. In 2008, Ted served as president of the Old-Timers Club in Stamford, an organization with which he remained an active member for many years. He also served on the Board of The American Heart Association.

Ted was very driven and lived life with the view that there was always a better way. He worked tirelessly and fiercely to find the best treatments and doctors to prolong Gloria’s time on this earth. The most important achievement in Ted’s eyes, was his family. This was apparent to all who knew him both personally and in business.

Ted is survived by daughters, Patti Taccone and Nancy Carnavalla, sons-in-law, Marc Taccone, James Carnavalla, and grandchildren Brian, Jamie, Jacalyn, Michael and Nicholas. He is also survived by his sister Barbara and brothers Edward and Carmine, sister-in-laws Marilyn and Wilma.

Ted is preceded in death by his wife, Gloria, who passed two weeks prior. His brothers, Antonio, Gene (Audrey), Joe (Stella), Ralph (Corinne), Michael, sister-in-law Carole, and brothers-in-law Jim Downey and Richard McManus also predeceased him.

Funeral services for Ted and Gloria will be held at 10:30, Saturday, February 5, 2022 at St. Cecilia Church, with Fr. John Connaughton officiating. Burial will follow at St. Johns Cemetery, Darien, CT.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his memory to The Stamford Hospital Foundation, 3001 Summer St., Stamford CT 06905 or The American Heart Association, heart.org