Vincent J. Marottoli

Vincent J. Marottoli
Vincent J. Marottoli, 80, passed peacefully on Friday, January 17, 2025, at Yale New Haven Hospital after bravely fighting several illnesses. Vin was born in New Haven on November 8, 1944 to the late Ralph and Florence (Ricci) Marottoli. He enjoyed growing up in the Fair Haven area with his beloved parents, siblings and large extended family, attending Woolsey School, Fair Haven JR High, and Wilbur Cross High School. Vin had many academic and extracurricular achievements throughout his early education, developing a passion for foreign languages, playing football, and taking on leadership roles such as class president. This led to his successful attendance and graduation from Providence College with a magna cum laude degree in Humanities, focusing on foreign languages. He also served as sports editor of the college paper. From there he progressed to earn a Ph.D. in French and Comparative Literature from UCONN.
It was at Wilbur Cross High School that Vin asked Rosalind (Slattery) for her number, having their first date at a school dance. The rest was history as Vin and Roz were the love of each other's lives and married in 1967. Vin and Roz were very committed to their New Haven heritage and raised their children in the beautiful historic home they renovated, hosting many parties, holidays, and events for family and friends. Together, they were very active in preserving and promoting their beloved city. Vin enjoyed taking visitors on tours of the city and many historic highlights. They engaged in much activism around environmental and city preservation causes, including spending decades rehabbing and restoring numerous blighted properties, returning them to their beauty and developing affordable housing for the community.
During their first year of marriage, Vin and Roz lived in France as part of his doctoral studies, living in Rouen, Normandy, and traveling throughout Europe. They made lifelong friends, connected with relatives, developed a passion for wine-tasting, and continued to foster their love of foreign languages, travel, and learning about other cultures, both speaking French, Spanish, and Italian. Upon their return to the States and completion of graduate work, Vin embarked on a multi-decade career teaching foreign languages at Foran High School in Milford. Vin, affectionately known as "Doc," was loved by his students and brought his love of language to them, as well as civic engagement, moderating clubs and events geared toward community service.
Vin and Roz took their love of travel and wine to the next level by starting "Wine Lover's Tours." Initially, a wine appreciation club that hosted local tasting events, it evolved into leading national and international travel. For over four decades, they planned and led wine and cultural tours all over the world. Vin never missed an opportunity for an adventure or to try something new, encouraging his students, children, and grandchildren to do the same. His wine interests also led to hosting a wine appreciation segment on local radio station WELI and teaching wine tasting courses at University of New Haven for many years. Along with his brother and brother-in-law, he was also part-owner of The Wine Merchant in New Haven in the late '70s and early '80s.
An avid sports fan, Vin rooted passionately for his UCONN Huskies. He enjoyed many trips with his brothers, son, son-in-law and friends to see college and NFL games around the country.
Vin's greatest pride came from having a close-knit family and long marriage with Roz. Memories of travel with family always put a smile on his face, including reminiscing about trips to Maine in the summers with his parents, siblings, and extended family, adventures all over the world with Roz and their children, his "La Famiglia" trips to Italy with much of the extended family, time in Florida in the winters with his son and in-laws, and drives to Massachusetts to visit grandchildren. In addition to his adoring wife, Vin is survived by his loving children who called him their hero: son Vincent R. Marottoli and daughter Maria (Kevin) Kavanaugh. He was proud Papa to James, Alexa, Fotis, and Roseni. He doted on them and loved attending school functions, sporting events, recitals, and birthdays, and cherished the artwork they made for him. He adored his siblings and in-laws and was so grateful for their support when his health began to decline: Dr. Richard (Denise Acampora) Marottoli, Ralph (Donna) Marottoli, Charlotte Scimone, Neva Slattery, and the late Richard Slattery. He is also survived by his large extended family including his niece, nephews, cousins, and their families. His children would like to thank their aunts and uncles, cousins Gail (Ricci) and Jim Cooke, family friends such as the Durand/Cifaldi family, Asselin/Carranza/Cremin families, and many neighbors and friends who created a circle of support and assistance these past few years. His family and friends will miss his charismatic, larger-than-life personality, dependability, ability to laugh at himself, and caring nature.
The family will forever be grateful for the wonderful care Vin received from his medical providers, caregivers and support team. He was able to enjoy life to the fullest through his final month due to the treatment and care he received. Thank you to Drs. Goldberg, Tanoue, and Mukherjee, and nurses Gail and Ainsley through Yale New Haven Hospital, as well as his physical therapist Saif and integrative medicine practitioner Caroline. Special thanks for wonderful home care from his aide Brittany, and all the care coordination and support he received from Tricia at Thrive.
Visiting hours will be Thursday from 4-7 p.m. in the Iovanne Funeral Home, Inc., 11 Wooster Place, New Haven. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Friday at 10 a.m. in Blessed Michael McGivney Parish at St. Michael Church, 29 Wooster Place, New Haven. The burial will be done in the Spring.
In lieu of flowers, charitable memorial contributions can be made to The New Haven Preservation Trust, Center Street Cemetery in Wallingford, or the Integrative Medicine Services Fund at Yale New Haven Hospital.