Enzo J. GUIDOBONO

GUIDOBONO, Enzo J.


Enzo Guidobono, 80, of Newington, cherished husband, father, grandfather, and uncle passed away at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford on January 26, 2013 after a brave battle with transitional cell carcinoma. His courage and strength in the face of adversity was indicative of the way he lived his life. He was born on July 31, 1932 in New York City to the late Ernestina Pelizza Guidobono and Lorenzo Guidobono, immigrants from Pontecurone, Italy. Enzo attended NYC public schools until his much admired older brother, Louie, provided the means to move the family to Elmwood to join their cousins, the Aloisi family of West Hartford. For 10 year old Enzo, this was a dream come true as he believed Connecticut to be the greatest place on earth. It was in Connecticut that his passion for golf and music emerged. At the age of 12, Enzo had the good fortune to come under the tutelage of Wilton Wales Sherman who hired him to caddy for his business, Rockledge Country Club, becoming his mentor and friend. Enzo then worked on and off at Rockledge for the next 14 years alongside golf pros Tommy Armour and Bob Schappa. Upon graduation from Hall High in 1950, Enzo attended Hart College and then he served with pride in the U.S. Army. He received a BS in Business Administration from the University of Connecticut in 1959 with the honor of being the first person in his family to earn a college degree. While at UConn his passion for golf accelerated and he was a key member of the golf team. Throughout his life, Enzo played in numerous ProAm tournaments including the GHO. His swing was straight and powerful and he could really make that ball fly. Enzo was a talented tenor and met the love of his life, Erica Santacroce, while the two were performing together at the Bushnell in a variety show and they were blessed with 55 years of marriage. In addition to golf and music, he was a great lover of NY sports teams including the Yankees, the Rangers and the Knicks. His additional passions included dancing, betting on the horses, the NEFCO office pool, spy novels, trips to New York City and Italian food. For many years Enzo sang with Newington's Holy Spirit Church choir. He was a loyal friend, often visiting ailing friends and colleagues and spent years caring for his mother. But his greatest devotion was to his family whom he loved with all his heart, taking great pride in his children and grandchildren's achievements. He had a strong work ethic which he instilled in his children. For 25 years he was the General Manager of West Hartford Supply and then joined the NEFCO Corporation working there until the age of 80. NEFCO was his second family and it was a pleasure for him to continue to stay on the job; it kept him going. Enzo leaves behind his beloved wife, Erica; his daughter, Dea Lawrence and son-in-law, Michael Zelniker of Los Angeles, CA; son Lawrence Guidobono and former daughter-in-law Loretta Judkins of East Haddam; son Frederick Guidobono and daughter-in-law, Lisa Mangiafico Guidobono of Wethersfield; grandchildren Joshua, Benjamin, Zachary, Jared, and Erica; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Valeria Santacroce DeNapoli and Harry DeNapoli , niece Lori Guidobono Bell and husband Bruce of Land O'Lakes, FL; nephew Dennis Bono and wife, Lorraine Hunt Bono of Las Vegas, NV; nephew Tony DeNapoli and wife Anna; sister-in-law, Brenda Draghi Guidobono and grandniece Elise Guidobono Garbeck and family. He was preceded by his brother, Louis, sister-in-law, Delphine Cresotti Guidobono, and mother and father, Ernestina and Lorenzo Guidobono. The Guidobono family would like to thank Mr. David Gelles and family and the employees of the NEFCO Corporation for their generosity, compassion, and support during this profoundly difficult time.
A wake will be held at the D'Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Blvd. in Wethersfield on Thursday, Jan. 31 between the hours of 4-8 p.m. The funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, Feb. 1, at 10 a.m. at the Church of the Incarnation, 544 Prospect St., Wethersfield. Everyone is asked to go directly to the church. Burial, with military honors, will be in Mt. St. Benedict Cemetery, Bloomfield. Memorial donations in Enzo's name may be made to the American Cancer Society, 825 Brook St., I-91 Tech Center, Rocky Hill, CT 06067. For online expressions of sympathy, please visit www.desopo.com.