Denise L. Dubrino-Masi

Born on April 16, 1959, in Brooklyn, NY, Denise brought strength, warmth, and energy to everything she touched. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Hunter College in New York City and began her nursing career at Brookdale Hospital in Brooklyn. She went on to serve for many years as a registered nurse and infectious disease specialist at Courtland Gardens Health Center in Stamford, CT, where she cared for patients with deep compassion and unwavering dedication.

Denise and her husband, Philip, raised their family in Stamford, CT where she built a beautiful home full of love, laughter, and home-cooked meals. She made holidays and ordinary days alike feel magical and always so full of fun for her family, the center of her world. She volunteered for ‘Meals on Wheels’ for many years, quietly extending her care to neighbors and strangers alike across Stamford. She truly had a one-of-a-kind presence; fierce, funny, and utterly unforgettable, with a rare gift for making everyone feel truly cared for - whether through a long conversation, a pot of her homemade chicken soup left on the doorstep, or her fierce loyalty to the people she loved. She lit up every room she entered.

In 2016, Denise and Philip moved to Utah, where she quickly became a beloved part of their new community. She made countless wonderful friends on Scenic Valley Lane, and through her early morning spin and yoga classes at the Sandy Recreation Center. To them she continued to spread joy and warmth with her humor, energy, and generosity. She could talk to anyone, connect with everyone, and never backed down from a new challenge.

Denise faced leukemia with the same fierce determination that defined her life. After undergoing a bone marrow transplant in September 2024, she made an extraordinary recovery. She and Phil were in the midst of returning to the East Coast to be closer to her children and new grandchildren when unexpected complications took her life far too soon.

She is survived by her loving husband, Philip Masi; her children, Jillian Fortin (Stephen) and Andrew Masi (Kayla); her cherished grandchildren, Russell Fortin, Mackenzie Fortin, and Jackson Masi; and her brother, Christopher DuBrino. She was the daughter of the late Anthony and Marie DuBrino. She also leaves behind countless friends, neighbors, and extended family across Connecticut, New York and Utah. She had a remarkable way of building community - bringing people together, supporting them through difficulty, and caring for others in ways both big and small. Her love, her lessons, and her legacy will live on in every funny story shared, every delicious meal cooked, and every act of kindness done in her name.

A memorial will be held at Leo P. Gallagher & Son Funeral Home in Stamford on Wednesday, August 13 from 5:30 p.m.- 8:30 p.m. A funeral mass will follow at St. Leo Parish in Stamford on Thursday, August 14th at 10:00 a.m.