Gaetano Guy Buddy Patrizzi

Gaetano Guy “Buddy” Patrizzi, 87, of Wethersfield, beloved husband for 62 years of Doris (Cerwonka) Patrizzi, passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 6, 2017. Born in Hartford on July 30, 1929, he was the son of the late Michael Dominic Patrizi and Carmela (Palazzo) Patrizi. He was very proud of his service in the U.S. Army. He served as a Private First Class, Lightning Division 25th infantry as a radioman during the Korean War, where he spent one year at Heartbreak Ridge. Buddy retired from Aetna after 38 years of service. While still working there, he was also the office manager at his cousin’s construction company, Palazzo Construction. In addition to his career at Aetna he was also employed part time in the press room at the Hartford Courant for many years. He never formally retired and worked well into his 80s. He was a longtime member of the Benevolent Order of Elks Lodge 2308, serving as Exalted Ruler and holding many designations such as Trustee, Treasurer, Auditor, Past Exalted Ruler, District Deputy, Vice President Central District and State President from 2007-2008. He also was a member of the VFW, Rocky Hill and UNICO National, Wethersfield chapter, where he enjoyed serving at the Macaroni Dinner every year. Buddy was very proud to serve as Honorary Parade Marshall of the Wethersfield Memorial Day Parade in May 2016. He was a lifetime member of Corpus Christi Church and usher at the early Sunday Mass for 50 years and loved to make family breakfasts after Sunday Mass. His homemade sauce was the best, which he made sure to tell everyone, and his home repairs were a work of art. Buddy was proud of his 1978 Cadillac Sedan De Ville. He was an avid duck pin bowler with the All Insurance League and won many trophies. He was a coach and past President of the Wethersfield Little League in the early 1970s and was an avid Boston Red Sox fan. Buddy enjoyed spending time and having dinners with his family and making his award winning wine with his cousin John and oldest son Michael. He loved his family members and friends and was always there to help them no matter what time of day. He will be dearly missed by his wife Doris, who lovingly called him “Pat”; his daughter Susan Beard of Newington; three sons, Michael Patrizzi and wife Anna of East Granby, Mark Patrizzi of Broad Brook and Stephen Patrizzi and wife Gillian of Hartford; five adored grandchildren, Michael Beard, Jennifer Sullivan and husband Tom, Michael G. Patrizzi, John H. Patrizzi and Kathryn C. Patrizzi and one cherished great-granddaughter, Rachel Sullivan. He is also survived by his sister, Annette Shea of Wethersfield, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family members and friends.

Funeral services will be Tuesday (April 11) at 9 a.m. at the D’Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Blvd., Wethersfield followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at Corpus Christi Church, 601 Silas Deane Hwy., Wethersfield. Burial with military honors will be in Rose Hill Memorial Park, Rocky Hill. Family and friends may call on Monday from 4-8 p.m. at the funeral chapel. Donations in Buddy’s memory may be made to the Elks National Foundation Scholarship Fund, 2750 N. Lakeview Ave., Chicago, IL 60614-2256. To share a memory of Buddy with his family, please visit www.desopo.com.