Sebastian Subby Gattinella

Sebastian R. “Subby” Gattinella, of Wethersfield, beloved husband of Angela (Miele) Gattinella passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, May 27, 2014. He was born to Salvatore & Concetta (Polce) Gattinella on the East Side of Hartford known as Front Street. He lived with his parents, brother and two uncles who were like his brothers until the neighborhood was torn down. He served in the US Army stationed in Germany. While stationed in the Army, his father became deathly ill and he was given an honorable discharge to help raise his 13 year old brother Ron. He joined the International Association of Heat & Frost Insulators Union, Local 33 where he worked until his retirement.

Upon retiring he just enjoyed his time. He loved to play cards at the club on the “Avenue”, meet his buddies for “Breakfast Club”, take trips to the casino to roll the dice and watch sports. He was very passionate about basketball and he would tell you Michael Jordan was one of the greatest. He also loved football and of course, the Yankees.

Nothing in his life was more important to him than his family. He would do anything for his family and he cherished his grandkids. He was the “on call driver” going to schools to pick up his grandkids at any time. He loved spending time with his children and if he didn’t see you for a while, he would call you up and say “Where have you been, I missed you, I haven’t seen you in while”. Nobody will ever forget Subby’s jokes. He told the same jokes for years to anyone who would listen, of course his family knew them all so we just would smile or roll our eyes when he had a new audience, but he would make them laugh. He loved to flirt with the ladies and was never without some compliment to give someone.

As a family, we spent lots of time together, we were blessed to be close enough to travel together and although he wasn’t interested in where he was or what was going on, he just loved being with his family, nothing made him happier.

Subby will be missed by his various coffee groups, Goodwin Park Golf Course, Dunkin Donuts on Franklin Avenue with Kelly D., Sal S., Tony C., Joe G. and others. Also he will be missed at his monthly breakfasts with his buddies from the East Side. He leaves a huge void at the Annual Polce picnic where he also told his same jokes, year after year but still made everyone laugh. His brother, Ron will deeply miss him at their monthly card game, his coffee visits at Ron & Marilyn’s place of business and his casino trips with their friend Paul Cordilico. Subby had some illnesses throughout the past five years and many times we feared that they would take him from us, but the Strong Man that he was, he rallied and kept going. He complained yet survived and became the poster child for Peritoneal Dialysis, it saved his life and gave him so many more wonderful years. Then the impossible happened last year, his firstborn daughter Debbie got sick with cancer and passed away in 11 weeks. There are no words to describe the pain he felt and the toll it took on him. His heart was broken and we all believe that is what took him from us on Tuesday, he died of a broken heart but now he is with Debbie, sitting next to her with his arm around her, giving her a little kiss on the cheek and telling her some jokes and she is laughing and rolling her eyes but they are together, she needed her Dad and just like every single other time in our lives when we needed him, he was there. Subby will be deeply missed by his beloved wife Angela and his son Salvatore Gattinella and daughter Alana (Gattinella) DiMarco, son-in-law Stan Kurys and Debra (Gattinella) Kurys who sadly predeceased him this past October. The loves of his life are his grandchildren who all feel so blessed to have so many years with him. Michael Kurys, Alexa and Allison Gattinella and Dina and Dominic DiMarco. He will be missed by his brother Ronald Gattinella and his wife Marilyn and his in-laws who also were like brothers and sisters to him; Rudolph & Marylou Baran, Patricia & Jerry Knislis and Paul Miele and all of their children who adored him as well, Marc & Greta Gattinella, Michael & Lori Gattinella, Paul & Lynn Gattinella, Denise (Gattinella) & Eric Lopez, Jason & Robin Baran, Stacy Baran, Dana & Anthony Santilli, Kevin & Megan Knislis, Eric & Hollie Miele and many more Great Aunts & Uncles and cousins and friends. Everyone loved him!!! A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday May 31st at 12 noon at the Church of the Incarnation, 544 Prospect St., Wethersfield. Everyone is asked to please go directly to the church. Burial will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Hartford. The family will receive relatives and friends on Friday from 4-8 p.m. at the D’Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Blvd. Wethersfield. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made in Subby’s memory to the scholarship in his late daughter’s name; the Debra Ann Gattinella Kurys Scholarship, Wethersfield Dollars for Scholars, P.O. Box 290338, Wethersfield, CT 06129-0338. For online expressions of sympathy to the family, please visit www.desopo.com.