Thomas Verderame III

Thomas Verderame, III
Thomas Verderame III passed away suddenly at his home on April 29, 2024. Tommy "Mix" as he was known to friends and loved ones was a dedicated and loving father to his three children, Victoria, Tommy, and Natalia Verderame whom he adored and was always very proud of. Born on April 18, 1958, on Wooster Street in New Haven, he took pride in being part of a special neighborhood of people-these characters were often brought to life in the stories he told from growing up in a true Italian-American enclave.
After graduating Notre Dame High School West Haven, Tommy went on to Boston University where he graduated in 1980 cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.
In his professional life, Tommy was the epitome of a dedicated civic servant, working for more than 35 years with the City of New Haven, many of which he served as the Executive Administrator to the Director of the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Trees. Throughout his tenure, he was recognized with various accolades as a testament to his service. In 2022, after many years of serving the union, he was elected as Vice President of AFSCME Council 4 Local 3144. But none of the accolades compared to the lifelong friends he made on the job, most of whom became his second family.
In his free time, he enjoyed the company of his special group of friends who were like his "band of brothers." From vacations to Florida and Cape Cod to Yale Football and Basketball games-wherever they went chaos was sure to follow-which always led to a good story for anyone willing to listen.
Tommy was a lifelong sports fan, following everything from tennis to horse racing. He enjoyed trips to Saratoga and was blessed to watch American Pharoah win the Triple Crown at the Belmont Stakes in 2015. However, nothing ever beat the love he had for the New York Yankees, which he shared with his children. In addition to his love of sports, he was a true appreciator of music. Beatlemania might have arrived in 1964-but it lived on in his heart until the day he passed.
In addition to his three loving children, he is survived by his brother Vincent (Jodi) Verderame, his cousin "sister" Eloise Forte-Lee, and his companion Sabrina Moore. He is also survived by the mother of his children, Diane Levi Verderame, and his father-in-law, Hal Levi, as well as his nephews, nieces, great-nephews, great-niece and many cousins and friends, all of whom he adored. He was predeceased by his mother, Eleanor Spino Verderame, and father Thomas "Mix" Verderame, and special dog Chance. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him and loved him.
Visiting hours will be Friday from 4-7 p.m. in the Iovanne Funeral Home, Inc., 11 Wooster Pl., New Haven. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. in Blessed Michael McGivney Parish at St. St. Michael Church, 29 Wooster Place, New Haven. Burial will follow in St. Lawrence Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Dan Cosgrove Animal Center https://www.branford-ct.gov/departments/animal-shelter. Share a memory by visiting Tom's Tribute page at wwww.iovanne.com.