Bruno R. Palmieri

Bruno Robert Palmieri, 93, of East Hartford and South Glastonbury, devoted and loving husband of Catherine L. (Zebzda) Palmieri, passed away unexpectedly on November 22, 2012. He was born on January 1, 1919, in South Glastonbury to the late Gregorio and Rosa (Ferrari) Palmieri. He is predeceased by his brothers, Louis and Hugo Palmieri.

Bruno was a brilliant mathematician who was a self-proclaimed "Master of Numbers." He was employed as a licensed land surveyor for various civil engineering firms until his retirement at age 70. It gave Bruno great joy to show his family the projects and neighborhoods his precise measurements and straight lines had helped to create. Throughout his life, he along with his brothers operated the family orchard in South Glastonbury. For 20 years after his official retirement Bruno continued laboring in his love for the land, tending to the family property in South Glastonbury, pruning trees, mowing the fields and wielding the scythe in the tall grasses. Although we know that Bruno had accomplished much in his life, he would jokingly say that he wanted it to be known in his own obituary that one of his greatest accomplishments was mastering the pick and shovel at an early age!

In addition to Catherine, his wife of 53 years, Bruno is survived by his daughter Lillian and son-in-law, Peter Greenwood and grandchildren Victoria, Matthew and Justin, all of Cheshire; his daughter Catherine T. Palmieri of South Glastonbury (whom he lovingly called Van Tassel) and her fiancé, Scott M. Campanele of Glastonbury. He also leaves behind brother-in-law Edward "Tony" Zebzda and nephew Joseph A. Zebzda of East Hartford, with whom he resided; sister-in-law Janice Lee of Norwich and brother-in-law Theodore M. O'Brien of Hollywood, FL, as well as several nieces and nephews and great nieces and great nephews.

Funeral services will begin at 10 AM, on Friday, Nov. 30, 2012 at Benjamin J Callahan Funeral Home, 318 Burnside Avenue, East Hartford followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 AM, at St. Mary's Church, 15 Maplewood Avenue, East Hartford, CT 06108. Burial will follow at St. Augustine's Cemetery, South Glastonbury. Calling hours will be at the funeral home on Thursday evening from 4 to 7 PM. Memorial contributions in Bruno's name may be made to St. Mary's Church, 15 Maplewood Ave., East Hartford, CT 06108.

For additional information or to send online condolences to the family, kindly visit www.callahanfuneral.com