Salvatore Boccaccio

Salvatore 'Sam' Boccaccio, 82, of East Hartford, loving husband for 51 years to the late Mary (Sinopoli) Boccaccio, peacefully passed away on Monday, (May 10, 2010), at Hartford Hospital. He was the son of the late Santo and Marianna (Liberto) Boccaccio. He was born in Hartford on May 4, 1928, and grew up on Grove Street in the 'Old Front Street' neighborhood before moving to East Hartford where he resided for more than fifty years. After serving in the U.S. Army for six years and being stationed in Germany during the Korean War, Sam worked 44 years for Connecticut Natural Gas (CNG) in the street department. After his retirement from CNG, he spent many years working at Mickey's Oceanic Grill in East Hartford. A devout Catholic, Sam was a faithful communicant of Our Lady of Peace Church and St. Christopher Church both in East Hartford, was a member of St. Christopher's Senior Retirees Club, and enjoyed volunteering at holiday time delivering food and fruit baskets to families in need throughout the East Hartford area. Sam was also a devoted annual retreat attendee for 34 years at the Holy Family Retreat Center in West Hartford. Sam was a member of the Army Navy Club in Manchester, and of the American Legion Post #56 in Glastonbury. Sam was an avid ten-pin bowler and had a passion for golf, especially his golf trips to Myrtle Beach, SC. Sam is survived by his two sons, Paul Boccaccio and his wife, Marilyn 'Micki', and Anthony 'Tony' Boccaccio all of East Hartford; his special grandchildren, Joseph Boccaccio and his wife, Carolyn, of New York, NY, Nicholas Boccaccio and his girlfriend, Suzanna Thomas, both of Glastonbury, Justin Boccaccio and Ashley Boccaccio both of East Hartford, Thomas Boccaccio, Jr. of Manchester, Michael Boccaccio and his wife, Christina, of Lebanon; and a great-granddaughter, Dakota. Sam also leaves his four brothers, Richard 'Dick' Boccaccio and his wife, Beverly, of Westbrook, Joseph Boccaccio of Westfield, MA, John Boccaccio and his wife, Rosemary, of Newington, Rev. Michael Boccaccio, Pastor of St. Phillip's Church, Norwalk; four sisters, Rose Cassarino of South Windsor, Concetta Salafia of Unionville, Pauline Brancati of South Windsor, Frances Tebecio and her husband, Tab, of East Hartford; a brother-in-law, Paul Catalano of East Hartford; many nieces, nephews, and his golf buddies, Mike, Stevie G., and Albie. Along with his beloved wife and parents, Sam was predeceased by a son, Thomas Boccaccio, Sr. formerly of Colchester, a brother, Santo Boccaccio formerly of Wethersfield, and a sister, Josephine Catalano formerly of East Hartford. Funeral services will be on Ascension Thursday, (May 13, 2010) at 9:30 a.m. from the D'Esopo-East Hartford Memorial Chapel, 30 Carter Street, East Hartford with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Peace Church, May Road/Brandon Road, East Hartford with his brother, Father Michael, as Celebrant. Burial with military honors will be at Veterans Memorial Field-Silver Lane Cemetery, East Hartford. Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home chapel on Wednesday, (May 12, 2010) from 4-7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Sam's memory may be made to the Helen & Harry Gray Cancer Center, 80 Seymour Street, P.O. Box 5037, Hartford, CT 06102 or to the Masonic Care Home Health & Hospice, 111 Founders Plaza, Suite 200, East Hartford, CT 06108. For any on-line expressions of sympathy to the family please visit www.desopo.com.