John M. Ambruso,

John M. Ambruso, Sr., 93, of Bloomfield and Westbrook, passed away with peace and comfort on Wednesday, January 21, 2015 surrounded by his family. He adored his family above all else and was the devoted husband of the late Yolanda (Nigro) Ambruso for 55 years. He cared lovingly for Lonnie as his wife struggled for many years with Parkinson’s disease. He was born in Hartford, son of the late Rocco and Rose (Motto) Ambruso. John proudly served our country by enlisting in the U. S. Army Air Corps during World War II and was stationed in the Pacific Theater on the Island of Tinian as a radar technician and served in the First Bombardment Squadron and Ninth Bombardment Group. He returned to Hartford, where he worked at Billings and Spencer. Additionally, during that time in 1949, he decided to start his own business, Mansfield Machine Company, making small lathe parts. He gave multitasking a whole new meaning! It became time to plan for the future for his family so he set off to purchase land in Bloomfield and he and Lonnie built their family home. John went on to work for Schaefer Brewery as a District Manager, as his amazing genuine charisma made him the perfect person for his new endeavors. After “retiring” from Schaefer in 1975, he went on to work for Connecticut Distributors, Inc. He made so many dear friends along the way, many of whom he recently visited and met for lunch. “Why retire”, he would say, “I am having too much fun”! He would amaze everyone and really knew his wines. “Try this Shiraz” he would say, and he would go on to describe how it was fermented. He did, however, retire at the age of 89! He had an eye for real estate deals, recently buying and selling everything from his commercial property to billboard signs. He kept his mind sharp, reading his Wall Street Journal and discussing politics. Family and maintaining Italian traditions were most important to John. The Westbrook home, which he built in 1959, became the spot for great holiday gatherings and casual weekends. He, just recently, enjoyed his last Thanksgiving with 25 family members. Beyond his immediate family, he was very close to his nieces and nephews and provided sound advice in his loving manner. “You could confide in Uncle John, and he is a superb listener”, they would say. He is survived by his two children, Janice Ambruso and her husband John Monacella of Hartford; John M. Ambruso, Jr. and his wife Tracy (Kelly) Ambruso of Wethersfield; his grandson, John M. Ambruso, III, and several adoring nieces and nephews. He also leaves sisters-in-law, Marie Nigro of Old Saybrook and Jean Nigro of Branford. John was predeceased by brothers and sisters, Margaret (Ambruso) D’Onofrio and her husband Arthur, Pauline (Ambruso) Gange and her husband Albert, and Daniel Ambruso and his wife Ann and brothers-in-law, John and Michael Nigro. John was a devout Catholic and member of St. Timothy’s Church and received great comfort and support from Father Cody. Our family thanks Dr. Herbert Keating and Peggy of Bloomfield for keeping dad so healthy as well. We express our thanks to the staff at Duncaster for the brief but great rehab they gave him after his fall in December. We also extend our appreciation to the doctors, nurses and staff of Hartford Hospital’s Palliative Care unit for amazing care. You provided dad comfort and dignity. Indeed, our thanks to Elaine for assisting John.

Calling hours are Sunday, January 25th, from 4-7 p.m. at the D'Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Boulevard, Wethersfield. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday at 10 a.m. at Saint Timothy’s Church, 1116 North Main Street, West Hartford, CT 06117. Everyone is asked to go directly to the church. Burial with military honors will follow in Village Cemetery, Wethersfield. Memorial donations may be made to St. Timothy’s Church. To share a memory of John with the family, please visit www.desopo.com.