Philip Votto Jr.

1941 - 2013

VOTTO, PHILIP J., JR. Philip J. Votto, Jr., born February 20, 1941 in New Haven, CT, of East Hampton, CT and Sun Lakes, AZ, entered his eternal life on November 23, 2013 after a courageous battle against cancer. He was predeceased by his parents, Philip J. Votto and Elvira (Possidente) Votto. He was the beloved of Diane. He leaves children Stephen C. Votto of Hamden and his children, Lauren and Sarah, Peter Votto (Lisa) of Rocky Hill, and Lisa (Kevin) Fitzsimmons of Hamden. He also leaves Diane’s children, Michael J. Devine of Danbury and James C. (Joy) Devine of Mesa, AZ, and their children, along with a great grandson. In addition, he leaves his sisters, Judith (Edward) Piazza of New Haven and Louise (Robert) Ferrando of Wallingford. Phil graduated from Notre Dame High School in West Haven and Fordham University with a degree in Pharmacy. He was the pharmacist/owner of Beirne’s Pharmacy in New Haven for over 40 years. Phil also owned and operated a Milford and a Fair Haven Medicine Shop along with a medical equipment business in Hamden. After selling his pharmacy in 2003, he worked until he retired in 2008 with Parkinson’s disease. During his pharmacy career, he was President of the New Haven Pharmaceutical Association, in addition to being on the Boards of the Mary Wade Home, New Haven Halfway House, Fair Haven Health Clinic, Yale New Haven Hospital Regional Directors Council, and Constitution Healthcare. Phil served as a consultant to Special Attention Home Care Service, Hill Health Care Center, and Community Health Care HMO. He devoted many hours to these organizations but his favorite community service was to his parish of St. Frances Cabrini Church in North Haven where he served on the Board of Directors and Finance Council for many years. Phil was also a member of the New Haven Amity Club. He derived great happiness from taking his grandchildren on “adventures” and teaching his Arizona grandsons the game of golf which his father and uncle taught him at the age of nine. In addition to golf, Phil enjoyed travel, whether to the great National Parks in this country, a trip to Italy, a baseball park, or a Yankee game. Although his professional life was full and empowering to Phil as he helped many individuals throughout his career, his true joy was his family and extended family. His aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews were a significant part of his life and he was always there for them. Phil will be remembered by all for his positive outlook and the humorous anecdotes he shared. He always jokingly talked about writing his memoirs in a book entitled “Over, Under, and Behind the Counter, Stories by Your Neighborhood Pharmacist”, and did he ever enjoy telling those stories. Friends are invited to go directly to St. Frances Cabrini Church, 57 Pond Hill Rd., North Haven for a Mass of Christian Burial on Tuesday at 11 am. Burial will follow in All Saints Cemetery. There are no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Amity Charitable Trust, P.O. Box 4129, Yalesville,CT 06492 or Notre Dame H.S. ,24 Ricardo St., West Haven, CT 06516 MARESCA & SONS FUNERAL HOME , 592 Chapel St., is in charge of arrangements. Offer condolences at www.marescafuneralhome.com