Ignazio Arthur Garafolo

Arthur was born in Hartford CT on 9/6/1932 the son of the late Salvatore and Maria (Ganci) Garofalo. He graduated from John Fitch High School, Windsor CT. He served 2 years aboard the USS Perry DD-844 in the US Navy as Storekeeper 3rd Class Petty Officer, receiving an honorable discharge in 1957.

Arthur worked as a rural mail carrier for the USPS in Ellington, CT, retiring at age 64. He also served as deputy sheriff in Tolland County, CT. After moving to Florida in 1996, he developed his woodworking hobby into a thriving business creating cypress outdoor furniture. Art loved theater; acting with the Windsor Jesters, singing Verdi’s Requiem in the University of Connecticut Chorus and enjoyed singing in La Boheme in Clinton CT. Art has been politically active throughout his life; most recently elected as the Vice Chair of the Democratic Executive Committee of Charlotte County. Art always cared for people and was commissioned a Stephen Minister at his church, Gulf Cove UMC. He is a Lifetime Member of Rotonda Elks Lodge 2710 and a member of American Legion Post #113. Arthur has been a member of NARFE since 1998.

Arthur married Fernande Dionne, in April 1957, having two children. In June 1993, Arthur married Barbara Royce. For the last 7 years they have operated their own business, A&B Airport Shuttle.

In addition to his wife, Barbara, Arthur is survived by his brother Salvatore Garofalo and his wife Jacqueline of Boynton Beach, FL; his children, Lise Silverstein and her husband Philip, and Paul Garafolo of Glastonbury CT; his stepdaughters, Beverly Royce, and her husband Paul Cyr of Vergennes, VT, and Kerry Wood and her husband Richard, of Colchester, VT. Grandchildren; Lindsay Violette (Brian), Dan Hannon (Shawna Davis), Jason Acciola, Asheley Pankratz (Chris), Joe Garafolo, Kayla Guilbault, Brandi Robinson (Ryan), Caryn Higginbotham (Jason), Aaron Wood (Kristin Lewis), Angela Wood, Janice Wood, and Great-Grandchildren; Aubrey Violette, Rylie Garafolo Pankratz, Sophia and Wesley Robinson, Gavin Higginbotham, Adriana Lewis-Wood, and several nieces and nephews. Art was predeceased by his brother Joseph Garofalo and sisters Lucia Grant and Mary Jane Garofalo.

Calling hours are at Lemon Bay Funeral Home in Englewood from 3-5pm on April 2nd. A Celebration of Life will be at Gulf Cove UMC at 10:00am on Friday April 3rd. Interment following at Sarasota National Cemetery with Military Funeral Honors (9810 State Road 72, Sarasota, FL.) Friends may share memories online at http://www.lemonbayfh.com/obits/ In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Gulf Cove United Methodist Church, 1100 McCall Road, Port Charlotte, FL 33981 or the Wounded Warrior Project http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/ 4899 Belfort Road, Suite 300

Jacksonville, Florida 32256 CFC #11425

Lemon Bay Funeral Home and Cremation Services is in charge of arrangements.