Dr Vittorio "Vic" Ferrero M.D.

4/24/1944 - 5/10/2025

Niantic - It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of Dr. Vittorio Ferrero of Niantic, Saturday, May 10, 2025. Vic was born April 24, 1944, to Rina Ferrero and Aldo Monetti. He grew up in Venaria, Italy and received his medical degree in 1968 from Catholic University Medical School in Rome.

Vic immigrated to the United States in 1970 for his medical internship at the Brooklyn Cumberland Medical Center (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and completed his residency in psychiatry at the Institute of Living (Hartford) in 1974. It was at the IOL that Vic began his illustrious career in psychiatry, holding various positions as staff psychiatrist, director of the Lithium Treatment Clinic, and chief of the short-term unit and acute care services.

Aside from having a successful private practice, Vic was also the consulting psychiatrist for Gateway Counseling and Child and Family Agency of Southeastern CT. Notably, he was the principal psychiatrist for Connecticut Valley Hospital (CVH), and was chair and/or co-chair of various committees, such as Pharmacy, Nutrition and Therapeutics, Nicotine and Obesity Taskforce, and CME. Vic was especially proud and honored to be the assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Yale University, and the attending psychiatrist for Yale New Haven Hospital. Vic spent his last decade in psychiatry as the acting medical director for Lawrence + Memorial Hospital and the Stonington Institute, and finally as psychiatrist for William W. Backus Hospital and Lawrence + Memorial Hospital where he retired in 2022.

Vic left a professional legacy that was patient-focused and where empathy toward his patients' (and colleagues') experience was his top priority. He would often use humor to connect with people on a more human level and lighten the mood (his "Godfather" impression was a favorite). Throughout his career, Vic had the pleasure of working with many great professionals who enriched not only the lives of countless patients, but also Vic's life as well (some of whom became lifelong friends).

In his downtime, Vic was an avid reader (of science fiction and World War II history), a lover of music (opera, classical, jazz - even some Led Zeppelin) and a connoisseur of good food and wine ("Do you have Montepulciano?"). And of course, no meal was complete without stimulating conversation about politics, current events, the healthcare system, quantum physics, "Star Wars" vs. "Star Trek," and how everything in Italy was bigger and better ("In Italy, we would have a twelve course meal!").

Vic loved spending time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchild, as well as Denise's extended family of nieces, nephews, siblings and cousins. As a self-proclaimed techy, he loved using his iPad and iPhone to stay connected with family and friends out-of-state and overseas. In his later years with his wife Denise, they would travel to Florida to enjoy the southern beaches and Quebec for the food and culture. Vic and Denise loved going to museums and art galleries, the Sidedoor in Old Lyme for live jazz, but most of all, watching their favorite Italian and French comedies from the comfort of home, snuggled on the couch with the cats.

Vic is survived by his wife, Denise D'Auteuil; his stepson Kyle Perzanoski; and Vic's children: Marco, Marguerite (Case), Michael, Matthew, Monica, Victor, Kaitlin, Patrick and Paul Ferrero; grandchildren: Adam Ferrero, Aidan (Case), Marcos and Adrian (Carrasquillo); and great-grandchild, Charlie Ferrero; Vic's sister Giuliana Moneti Nova and her children; Vic's dear friends, Salvatore, Bianca and Osvaldo Mazza in Rome; and countless family, friends and colleagues.

Lastly, the family would like to thank the nurses and physicians of Yale Smilow Cancer Hospital for their dedicated and empathetic care during his final hours.

Calling hours for Vittorio will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, May 16, at Fulton-Theroux Funeral Service, 13 Lake Avenue, Niantic. To send online condolences to the family, please visit: www.fultontherouxniantic.com.