SALVATORE A. DI GIORGIO

1924 - 2017

Former Attorney, Teacher and Champion Ping-Pong Player. The kind, loving, and overtly generous soul of Salvatore A. Di Giorgio of Redding and formerly of Litchfield, entered eternal rest on July 26, 2017. Sal died peacefully in his sleep at the age of 92 and now joins in Heaven the love of his life, his wife of 62 years, Albina, who has been waiting unselfishly for him since her passing on July 9, 2015. Born October 16, 1924 in Waterbury, Sal is survived by his devoted sons, Mark Di Giorgio of West Hartford and his girlfriend, Suzanne Purdon, of Groton, and Brent Di Giorgio and his partner Edward Marcantonio, both of Westport. He also is survived by several cousins, relatives and friends. In addition to his beloved late wife, Sal was predeceased by his parents Antonio and Maria Gloria Di Giorgio. Sal received his Master's degree in Economics from the University of Connecticut in 1951, and his Juris Doctor in 1954 from the University of Connecticut School of Law. He practiced law for 20 years in Torrington and Waterbury before becoming a Professor of Business Law at the Naugatuck Valley Community College, retiring in 2004 at the ripe age of 80. A voracious reader with a keen intellect, Sal was a literal genius whose library comprised nearly 1,000 books – all of which he read and outlined in fastidious detail – on Economics, the Founding Fathers, finance, Dow Jones theory, Antarctic exploration, Robert Oppenheimer, the father of the atomic bomb, and Lillian Hellman, one of his favorite authors. A man of incomparable honesty, integrity and modesty, Sal modeled his life on justice and always doing what is right. He also could light up a room with his ingratiating smile, welcoming warmth and sense of humor. He was proud of his meticulously maintained flower gardens and enjoyed hosting four annual parties at his Litchfield home, including a "Celebration of Life" party in honor of his wife. Sal enjoyed bonding with his family and meeting new friends during family vacations. He particularly enjoyed trips to Italy, Switzerland, France and Monaco. Sal was a great lover of classical music and opera, and he could recite verbatim arias from his favorite opera, Giacomo Puccini's LaBoheme. Sal was a member in good standing of the Y's Men of Westport, a group of retired professionals, and enjoyed a challenging game of ping-pong each Tuesday afternoon at the YMCA Westport facility. Only a few years prior to his death, Sal placed third in the ping-pong category at the State of Connecticut Senior Games. He is especially grateful to his 16-year-old ping-pong buddy, Sean McHale of Redding, who visited his home weekly so they both could hone their table tennis skills. A member of the Greatest Generation, Sal served his country valiantly in Battery B, 379th Field Artillery Division in Europe and at the Battle of the Bulge during World War II. A wake in Sal's memory will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 1 from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at the Rowe Funeral Home, 283 Torrington Road, Litchfield. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 2 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Litchfield. Entombment will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Waterbury. Sal's sons would like to thank everyone involved in their Dad's care, particularly Elizabeth Won, M.D., at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the devoted professionals of Visiting Nurse and Hospice of Fairfield County, who enabled their dad to live his final few weeks of life with dignity and in peace. Kindly visit www.rowefuneralhome.net to send the family an online condolence.