Americo Rico Pace

Americo ""Rico"" Pace, 93, of West Hartford, beloved husband for 67 years of Petronella (Lupo) Pace, passed away peacefully, Sunday, March 1, 2015 surrounded by his loving family. Born on November 21, 1921 in Pratola Peligna, province of Aquila, Italy, he was the son of the late Terino and Vincenza (Mondazzi) Pace and came to America as an infant. Most of his childhood was spent in the old East Side and South End of Hartford. Rico was a 1940 graduate of Hartford Public High School. He served proudly in the U.S. Army during WWII, taking part in five major battles in the European Theater, including the invasion of Normandy, France and the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium. In 1963 he moved his growing family to West Hartford. After 48 years of faithful and dedicated service with the former Allen Mfg. Company, he retired as the Inside Sales and Service Manager. Rico was active in the Democratic Party in Hartford for many years. He served as Democratic Chairman in the old First Ward in the South End of Hartford and also served as Chairman of the Board of Selectmen in Hartford from 1953 to 1963. At the age of 10, Rico became an altar boy in the old St. Anthony Church in Hartford. Throughout his young and adult life, he was very active with the merged parishes of St. Patrick-St. Anthony, where he served as greeter, usher, collector and lector. He served as Chairman for many social and fundraising functions to further the spiritual, financial and social causes of the newly merged parish. He also served on the Parish Council and as Trustee for many years. He was a lifetime member of the Pratolana Society of Hartford. During his active membership of over 70 years, he served as President several times and chaired many events. Other organizations and clubs that he was involved in include the Italian-American Veterans, the La-Bra-Shay Club, St. Patrick-St. Anthony Social Club and Golf Tournament Committee, past President of St. Patrick-St. Anthony Men's Club, past Commander of St. Anthony Catholic War Veterans, Knights of Columbus, Hartford, South End Seniors and past President of the Greater Hartford Holy Family Retreat League. During his retirement years, he served as Chairman of the Supervisory Committee of the ASA Credit Union. Rico was a proud tour guide at the State Capitol and L.O.B Building with the League of Women Voters for over 20 years. He loved the young schoolchildren who constantly rejuvenated him during the tours he gave. He also enjoyed the various senior citizen groups to whom he related with joy and pride and he was always proud to promote Connecticut with out of state visitors. He was a caring and dedicated volunteer of long standing at St. Francis Care, where he received the prestigious Spirit Award for outstanding volunteer work to further the cause of carrying out the work of St. Francis Care. In 2011 Rico was honored to be named Grand Marshall at the CT Veterans Day Parade in Hartford and the West Hartford Memorial Day Parade. A loving and devoted husband, father and grandfather, Rico will be dearly missed by his wife Petronella; two sons and daughters-in-law, Vincent and Jane Pace of Gwynedd, PA and their children Gregory, Sarah and Julia Pace and Michael and Katherine Pace of Franklin, TN and their children Molly Pace and her partner John, Michael Pace and Megan Moore and her husband Brandon; two daughters and a son-in-law, Donna and Charles Schuberth of Newington and Mary Pace of West Hartford. He is also survived by two brothers, Carmen Pace and his wife Joan of Wethersfield and Augustine Pace and his wife Joanne of Glastonbury and his sister, Laura Longo of South Windsor, as well as many nieces and nephews, and extended family members and his many friends and supporters in the Greater Hartford area. He was predeceased by his brother Erminio Pace and his wife Marietta. The family would like to thank the staff at Bloomfield Nursing Center and the Masonicare Hospice team for all their love, care and support during Rico's illness. Calling hours are Friday (March 6) from 3-6 p.m. at the D'Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Blvd., Wethersfield. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday (March 7) at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick-St. Anthony Church, Hartford. Everyone is asked to please go directly to the church. Entombment will be in Mt. St. Benedict Cemetery, Bloomfield with military honors. In lieu of flowers, donations in Rico's memory may be made to St. Patrick-St. Anthony Church, 285 Church St., Hartford, CT 06103. To share a memory of Rico with the family, please visit www.desopo.com.