Michael "Mike" F. Brescia

Michael “Mike” F. Brescia, 86, of Hartford, passed away unexpectedly at home on Monday, July 5, 2021. Born in the Bronx, New York City, NY on August 14, 1934, he was the son of the late Antonio and Maria (Miraglia) Brescia. He was the baby of the family, part of the first generation born in America.

Our Dad attended St. Augustine’s School and Bulkeley High School, earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Central Connecticut State College and his M.Ed. from the University of Hartford, returning to teach at Bulkeley for 40+ years. He taught countless students in reading, science and math, coached volleyball, tennis and softball, as well as taught night school, retiring in 2007. He was a member of the Hartford Federation of Teachers, served on the Hartford Board of Education, Civilian Police Review Board, and was active in city politics and the town committee. However, he would say, his true calling was “delivery boy” delivering meals for First and Last Tavern, being out and about, keeping busy and avoiding the “traditional” retirement as best he could. He would tell us funny stories about his childhood friends and their antics in the “olden days.” We wrestled, played mad hatter with our cap guns, and goofed around. He always let us win and wanted to see us do well, always offering to help out if needed.

As kids, Sunday mornings were for going out for breakfast and then cruising for junk on the way home, loading up the trunk with something to fix. Who knew that landmine was real! We spent our summers swimming and playing tennis at Pine Acres. He encouraged us to play sports and liked golf, where many a time we snuck onto the back nine at Goodwin Park to play the 3 holes by the roadway or just hit baseballs at the diamond, then get ice cream. Wiffleball, curbball and catch were a standard until the ball got lost in the garden, then we played setback or went to the movies. Our dad liked to read and was impressed with technology, he read all sorts of books, classics, philosophy, medicine, yet give him the book on how use his cellphone or TV remote and it was hopeless. He had a sense of humor and loved the Far Side cartoons, always drawing goofy figures on greeting cards to us. He liked cars, the Triumph TR3 “bloop car” and the Corvette best, driving around with his grandchildren and going to McDonalds. As a grandpa, he loved his grandchildren and would go see the kids play sports or take part in school performances, always in a baseball cap, and making time to be there. And still to the day, was asking how they were doing in work and at school. He was so proud of his brother’s and father’s military service, and always spoke highly of his siblings, nieces and nephews, and all their talents. That was our dad...it is so hard to say goodbye. Bye dad, love you.

Mike will be forever missed and loved by his two sons, Eric Brescia and wife Nancy of Rocky Hill and their children Ashley and Christopher and Blaise Brescia and his children Alexa and Mason, and great-granddaughter, Maelie. He is also survived by several nieces, nephews and extended family members. He was predeceased by his brother, Frank Brescia and two sisters, Marion Occhineri and Angie Sardo.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, July 20 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Josephine Bakhita Parish at St. James Church, 767 Elm Street, Rocky Hill. Everyone is asked to please go directly to the church. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Memorial Park, Rocky Hill. Family and friends may call on Monday, July 19 from 4-6 p.m. at the D’Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Blvd., Wethersfield. Donations in Mike’s memory may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and/or The Shriners Hospital for Children. To share a memory of Mike with his family, please visit www.desopofuneralchapel.com.