Luigi “Gino” Giansiracusa, 85, of Hartford and Old Lyme, beloved husband of 60 years of Ines (Santilli) Giansiracusa, peacefully entered into eternal rest on Thursday, April 1, 2021 surrounded by his loving family. Born on March 31, 1936 in Sortino, Province of Siracusa, Sicily, son of the late Sofio and Lucia (Corsello) Giansiracusa, he had been a resident of Hartford for most of his life. A devout Catholic, Gino was a longtime communicant of St. Luke’s Church of Hartford, and would annually go on retreat at the Holy Family Monastery for many years. Gino was a hard worker, throughout his career he was the owner and operator of H&L Dress Company, Gino Fashions, G.G. Sportswear, and Luigi’s Italian Restaurant. An avid outdoorsman, Gino enjoyed hunting and fishing and was a professional skeet shooter who won several awards for his accuracy. He was the co-founder of the Italian American Sportsman Club of Hartford. A true sports enthusiast, he was a loyal fan of the Boston Red Sox, Boston Bruins, Hartford Whalers, UConn Women’s Basketball and the Italian Soccer League, Series A, where his favorite team was Juventus. Gino also enjoyed duckpin bowling, as he was the co-founder of the Tricolore Bowling League where he and his friends enjoyed many seasons of fun competition. Proud of his Italian heritage, Gino loved travelling back home to Italy with his family. In addition, he was a member of many Italian Social Clubs in the Hartford area including the Italian American Stars where he enjoyed the company of his numerous friends. Gino was an original member of I Mangioni, with close friends enjoying their Italian culture, delicious food and many good times. Gino loved the beach, it was a place he considered his sanctuary and loved spending his summers at his home at Miami Beach in Old Lyme with his family and friends. Cultivating and harvesting the garden was one of his life’s passions. The fruits of his labor, especially his fig trees were enjoyed by so many. Most of all, Gino loved being a Nonno and had such an impact on his grandkids. He lived through them and taught them so much. He loved mentoring, teaching and living life through the beautiful experiences they shared. He was their biggest fan and supporter of all their activities. He loved being a part of their special moments that they will cherish forever. He taught them that with every life experience, no matter how hard he saw them through it and was so proud.
In addition to his beloved wife Ines, Gino leaves behind his four devoted children: Luciana Marinelli and her husband George of Rocky Hill, Roberto Giansiracusa and his wife Paula of Wethersfield, Gina Giansiracusa and her partner Sebastian of Rocky Hill, and Rosanna Santilli and her husband Rocco of Wethersfield. He also leaves his eleven cherished grandchildren, Vanessa Gonzalez and her husband Marcel, Marco Marinelli and his wife Brianna, Rosanna Karabetsos, Giulia Giansiracusa, Sofia Giansiracusa, Theodore Karabetsos, Nico Karabetsos, Tia Giansiracusa, Brianna Santilli, Gino Santilli, and Ava Giansiracusa as well as two adored great-grandchildren, Anthony and Jordan Gonzalez. Gino also leaves many nieces and nephews whom he loved and had a special relationship with in the US, Australia and Italy. Gino is also survived by his sisters-in-law, Ivana Cieri of Wethersfield and Nella Giansiracusa of Australia. Gino was predeceased by his two brothers, Pasquale (Pasqualino) Giansiracusa and his wife Lucia and Vincenzo (Zino) Giansiracusa; two sisters, Lucia (Lucietta) and Sebastiano Pali Giuseppina and Giuseppe Santoro; two sisters-in-law, Tersicore (Terzina) and Luigi DellaFiore and Armida and Tiberio Pace and his brother-in-law, Giose Cieri.
Gino’s family will receive relatives and friends in a walk-through visitation on Wednesday, April 7, from 4 – 6 p.m. at the D’Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Blvd., Wethersfield. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, April 8, at 10:30 a.m. at the Church of the Incarnation, 544 Prospect Street, Wethersfield. Everyone is asked to please go directly to the church on Thursday morning and enter through the east entrance. For those who are unable to attend, the Mass will also be viewable via livestream using the following link: https://www.facebook.com/562223317445985. Entombment will follow in Mount Saint Benedict Cemetery Mausoleum, Bloomfield. Due to the current health pandemic, everyone is asked to please wear a face covering and adhere to all of the regulations by the CDC, church, and funeral home chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Gino’s name may be made to Christopher’s Haven, 1 Emerson Place #2N Boston, MA 02114 www.christophershaven.org. Gino’s family would like to extend their sincere gratitude and appreciation to Dr.Komsu Mamuya from Starling Physicians for his professionalism, care and compassion given to Gino and his entire family. For online expressions of sympathy to the family, please visit www.desopofuneralchapel.com.
