Mr. Michael Domenic Gattozzi

Michael Domenic Gattozzi, age 81, of Tuscaloosa, died Aug. 22, 2010 at DCH Regional Medical Center. Services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2010, at Covenant Presbyterian Church with Rev. Rick Olson officiating. Burial will follow in Tuscaloosa Memorial Park with Heritage Chapel Funeral Home & Cremations, a Dignity Memorial Provider, directing. Visitation will be tonight from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Ralphine Gattozzi; his sister, Antoinette Gattozzi; his son, Michael Scott Gattozzi; and grandson, Travis Malone.

He is survived by his wife, Charlotte; his daughter, Connie Malone and her husband Philip; his son, Joseph Gattozzi and his wife Ashley; grandchildren, Shannon, Evan, and Carl Malone, and Christopher, Holly, and Lilly Gattozzi; and eight great-grandchildren.

Michael was born on July 7, 1929, in Cleveland, Ohio. He graduated from Collinwood High School and attended Ohio State University. He earned his Bachelor and Master of Music Degrees with violin major at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago, Ill., and his Doctorate of Music Performance at Florida State University.

Michael taught at Bethany College in Bethany, W.Va., and played in the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra. He taught at Sandy Springs and Roswell High Schools and was assistant concertmaster of the Atlanta Symphony. He then joined the faculty of the Music Department at Middle Tennessee State College in Murfreesboro, Tenn. In 1963 Michael joined the University of Alabama music faculty and was second violinist in the Cadek String Quartet. Until his retirement in 1991, he taught violin and a variety of classes, and for a number of years conducted the university orchestra. He played in the faculty orchestra at the Brevard Music Center for nine years. He initiated the Suzuki String Program in Tuscaloosa. He also organized and conducted the Tuscaloosa Community Orchestra, which later became the Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra, with Michael as concertmaster.

Michael was a member of Tuscaloosa Civitan Club, loved teaching, gardening, playing golf and tennis, singing in the Covenant Presbyterian Church choir, entertaining his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, traveling, and fine dining. But above all, what he loved most was playing the violin.

The family wishes to thank all the doctors and nurses at DCH Regional Medical Center for the compassionate and professional care given to Michael during his hospital stay.

Pallbearers will be Christopher Gattozzi, Carl Malone, Evan Malone, Vic Hayslip, Johnny Roberts, and Ralph Lane.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the In As Much Fund at Covenant Presbyterian Church.