Stratford Star

Emilio Grimaldi

Emilio Grimaldi, 86, of Redding, husband of Emily Fusci Grimaldi for 59 years, died Jan. 15, at home. His daughter, Julia Grimaldi Matto and her fiance, Brian Weisner live in Stratford.

Mr. Grimaldi was born May 16, 1925 in the village of Mascali, Sicily at the foot of Mount Etna.

In November of 1928 Mount Etna erupted and his family lost their house, farmland, crops and livestock. The entire village of Mascali was destroyed. His parents, Leonardo and Regina (Rovagnati) Grimaldi started over.

Mr. Grimaldi’s first true love was soccer and he toiled in various soccer leagues until a bout with typhoid fever rendered him bed ridden and near death, his family said.

In 1952, Sabina Fusci took Emily, her 22-year-old daughter across the Atlantic to Sicily to find a husband. Emily was born in Harrison, N.Y. to a Sicilian father and Neapolitan mother who had friends in Sicily. Within 10 days of meeting, Emilio and Emily were engaged; and within two weeks they were married.

Emily returned to her home in Bridgeport, Conn. leaving Emilio behind until he was cleared by immigration eight months later. In 1953, he took the liner Andrea Doria and entered New York Harbor.

Although they did not know each other when married, the union of Emilio and Emily Grimaldi lasted 59 years. Settling in Bridgeport, Mr. Grimaldi landed work processing milk in the icebox of Mitchell Dairy in Bridgeport and then Borden’s Milk Company in Stratford.

Although he had no formal education he was good with numbers and worked his way into the shipping department of the company. Like so many immigrants seeking property in suburbs, land in Monroe led to construction of a home where Emilio and Emily raised their two children.

If soccer was his first love, winemaking, the New York Yankees and a traditional Sunday dinner with his family were equal partners. For decades he processed homemade wine in the cellar from equipment manufactured circa 1900.

Besides his wife, he is survived by daughter, Julia Grimaldi Matto and her fiance, Brian Weisner of Stratford; Lennie Grimaldi and his wife, Maureen Grimaldi of Redding; granddaughter, Melissa Matto of Stratford; many family members in Italy; several nieces and nephews, and many friends in Connecticut.

Abriola Parkview Funeral Home, 419 White Plains Road, Trumbull, handled arrangements.

To light a virtual candle, visit abriola.com.

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