Louis P. BRUNETTE

BRUNETTE, Louis P.


Louis P. Brunette passed away on February 26, 2013 after a brief but courageous battle with cancer at the age of 95. Born in Cromwell, CT to Guitano and Sebastiana (Fortuna) Brunette in 1917. Lou lived most of his life in New Britain, Rocky Hill and his lakeside house in East Hampton. A totally self-made man, Lou graduated from the State of Connecticut Trade School of New Britain with a Trade Apprentice Certificate as a machinist in 1934 and owned his own machine shop by age 21. After prospering through the war years by doing defense work, Lou sold his company, Brunette Tool, in 1951. Looking for a new venture, Lou bought a dump truck load of government surplus milling cutters and started what would become his life's work, Industrial Surplus. This company would go on to become one of the largest machine tool dealers in the country. Many now prosperous Connecticut businesses owe their start to machines Lou sold them on a handshake and their promise to "pay when you can". Lou was a true entrepreneur as was evident by the many business ventures he was involved with over the years from CT to CA. Never a man to just accept what life handed him, Lou took life by the horns and lived every minute to the fullest. Whether he took to water or snow skiing or playing tennis, Lou outperformed men far, far younger than he. In business he always battled for the best end of a deal but once the deal was made, he stood by it even if a better offer would come along from someone else. Lou enjoyed working in his flower and vegetable gardens, his early Saturday morning poker games at the casinos where he acquired six royal flush hands, which he would then be presented with his prized royal flush jackets. He was also an avid fisherman as he loved both salt and fresh water fishing whenever he could. He amassed a collection of fishing gear and kept a pole or two in the back of his car at all times just in case the right stream or lake was within his travels. He loved his vacations at Bear Spring Camps in Rome, ME with his daughter Susan's family and his very special friend and companion of 30 years Valerie Liistro and her two sons Greg and Matt. Lou is predeceased by daughter Carol Guzewicz; sisters Angelina Muzzicato, Ida George, Carm Cannata, and Ann Coyne; and brother Mike Brunette. Surviving are children Louis Brunette Jr. From Ashland, OR, Susan and Paul Gaffney from Newington, Karen and Guy Brunette from Glastonbury; and son-in-law Jack Guzewicz from Cromwell; his grandchildren Zachary, Alex, Kaitlin, Paul, Jr., Michael, Trevor and Thomas, two great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends may call on Lou's family on Friday evening, March 1, 2013 at the Newington Memorial Funeral Home, 20 Bonair Ave. from 4-7 p.m. Funeral services will begin on Saturday morning at 9 a.m. at Newington Memorial to Church of the Holy Spirit where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery, New Britain. Diabetes research was always an important issue in Lou's life since his daughter Carol was first diagnosed with diabetes at an early age. As a memorial donation to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 20 Batterson Park Road, 3rd Floor, Farmington, CT 06032, would be appreciated, he was also an avid gardener and loved flowers too. To leave an online expression of sympathy for the family, please visit:www.duksa.net.