Paul M. Foti

Paul M. Foti passed away peacefully at his home in Branford on Friday December 12, 2025. Paul was born in New Haven, CT on January 25, 1935 to Paul Frank Foti and Josephine DiPietro Foti. Paul was predeceased by his brother, Salvatore Foti. In addition to his loving wife of 30 years, Gardenia (Dee), he is survived by his three children, Joanna Ober and her husband
Philip, Karen Bailey and her husband Eric and Paul G Foti and his wife Ronella.
Beloved grandchildren, Michelle Ober, Ryan, Erin, Devin and Kaylen Beiley, Kristian and Gabriel Foti, along with three nieces, Maria Kaplan, Patty Altieri and husband Matt and Sally Foti and a nephew, Peter Foti and wife Cheryl and extended family Kelly Levinson and her husband Larry, William Drew and his wife Lisa, Stephen Drew and Tze- Fang. Grandchildren Michael Stone, Amanda Stone, William, Jared and Katie Drew, David Levinson and wife Johanna, Zack Levinson, Shaina Levinson husband Matt Iannello, and his great granddaughters Sophie and Bailey.
Paul graduated from Notre Dame High School and received his Bachelor of Science Degree from Fordham University in 1956, and his Juris Doctorate in 1959 at the University of Connecticut School of Law. He served in the United Sates Army Reserve from 1959 through 1965 and received Honorable Discharge as First Lt. From 1959 through 1965 Judge Foti engaged in practice law in New Haven as sole practitioner. From 1961 through 1965 he also served in a part-time capacity as clerk if the Circuit Court and as an assistant Prosecuting Attorney. From 1965 to 1978 he served as a Prosecuting Attorney in both the Circuit Court and the Court of Common PLEAS. In 1978 he became a Judge of the court of Common Pleas and the same year, a judge of Superior Court. He initiated the Superior Court Housing Court in New Haven and continued serving throughout the state of Connecticut as a Trail Judge until 1988 when he was appointed as a Judge of the Appellate Court. He sat on the Appellate Court until 2005 when he became a Judge Trial Referee, retiring in 2020.
Over the years Paul was active in a number of activities and organizations of a civic or legal nature including the New Haven Pretrial Services Council, Guggenheim Fellowship in Criminal Law at Law Yale school, the Advisory Committee of the Statewide Organized Crime Investigatory Task Force, the Southern Connecticut Criminal Justice Supervisory Board, Participant of the National Judicial College in Reno, Nevada, The Judicial Bench Book Committee,
Paul was a member of the Connecticut Bar Association for over 60 years and a sitting Judge in the state for over 40 years.
As a Lawyer, Prosecutor and Judge he always showed his respect and caring for all people with whom he dealt. He is remembered for his integrity and for treating everyone fairly and with understanding and compassion.
Donations may be made in Paul's name to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Memorials Processing, 501 St. Jude’s Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday at 10:00 at St. Therese Church in Branford. Burial will follow in St. Agnes Cemetery in Branford. Friends may call Tuesday from 4-7 PM at the W.S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home, 244 North Main St. Branford.