Ernest Votto

1919 - 2025

Ernest Votto
July 19, 1919 - January 2, 2025
Ernest M. Votto, beloved father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 2 in Quincy, MA surrounded by his family. Ernie was born July 19, 1919 in New Haven, to Angelina (nee DeLeone) and Vitangelo Votto.
A graduate of Commercial High School, Ernie worked construction with his father before enlisting in the army in 1941 where he quickly rose to the rank of first Sergeant training as a pilot in the Army Air Corps Air at Drew Field in Tampa, Florida and developing his lifelong love of airplanes and flying.
After the War, Ernie began his forty-year career as sales executive with Dun and Bradstreet. In November of 1949 he married Frances Adeline Grammatico of New Haven. They built their home and raised their family in East Haven where they were active members of the community. Upon retirement he spent ten plus years as jack of all trades at Page's Sports Branford, sharpening skates, mending mitts and delighting customers.
Ernie spent 40 years with the Boy Scouts of America, a time when he led and inspired scouts and Scoutmasters with a commitment to the best ideals of that organization. In 2010 he received a rare blessing from the spiritual leader of the Tohono O'odham nation in Arizona that was consistent with his Scouting life.
After the death of his wife of 70 years, Ernie moved to Boston, MA where he continued to lead
his healthy, active life enjoying visits to and from his New York, Connecticut, and Oregon families. Admired and respected for his decency, humor and grace by friends, family, and neighbors old and new, Ernie remained an inspiration to the end of his days.
He is predeceased by his parents, his wife Frances, his brothers Pat and Albert, and sisters Eleanor Raccio and Evelyn DeCapua. He is survived by his children, Ernest (Mary) Votto of Portland, OR, and Vivian (Gene) Holmes of Boston, MA; grandchildren Peter Eli (Jennifer) Holmes of Boston, MA; Jane Rose (Casey) Hunt of Pound Ridge, NY; and Eric Avery Votto of Portland, OR; and his great-grandchildren Elena Frances Hunt and Thomas Votto Hunt, of Pound Ridge, NY. Ernie is also survived by his many beloved nieces and nephews, dear friends and neighbors.
Visiting hours will be held Friday evening, 5 p.m.-7 p.m. at the W.S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home, 244 North Main Street, Branford. A funeral service will be held there on Saturday at 10 a.m. followed by Burial at Beaverdale Memorial Park in Hamden.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Ernie's honor may be sent to Habitat for Humanity. Please see his online memorial at www.wsclancy.com.