NICHOLAS GAGLIARDI's Obituary
Nicholas Anthony Gagliardi (Pop) age 96 of Punta Gorda, FL entered into a peaceful rest on August 24. 2021.
Nick was born January 7, 1925 to Louis Gagliardi and Antoinette (Melillo) in New Haven, Ct. where he grew up. He then moved to Prospect, Ct and resided there for over 30yrs. He then retired to Punta Gorda. He was married to Elena P. Coletta for 60 years before she passed in 2006. He is survived by his loving children Carolann and husband Richard Asselin of Punta Gorda, FL; Louis Gagliardi of Ocala, FL and Annette Maddox of Torrington, Ct. He had four beautiful grandchildren, Nick Maddox of KeyWest,FL, Jesse Maddox of Valdez, AK; Joe Gagliardi of Beverly Hills, CA and Faith Loken of Charlotte, NC. He had two great-grandchildren Sophia and Grace Loken. His sister, Eileen Bilotta of N.Branford,Ct. Along with seven nieces and nephews, ten grand nieces and nephews and one great-great grandnephew. Not to mention myriads of friends whom he loved and cherished. (Especially his Alligator Park family).
Nick had a love of cars and became an auto mechanic which evolved into a position of car sales for over 30 years. (Foreign Car exchange and Cozy Cadillac and Oldsmobile/WES in Waterbury, Ct) After leaving car sales he moved on to work for Fenn Mfg. in Newington, Ct as a delivery driver and internal maintenance specialist. He also worked at our family restaurant in Prospect teasing and picking on our customers.
Nick had a zest for life, he flew planes, rode a motorcycle and loved boating. He was known on Bantam Lake for having the fast red boat that pulled 9 skiers at a time (which was big back in the late 60's) He was jet skiing at 89 years old in Key West with his grandson Nick. That zest followed him into the kitchen where he prepared and enjoyed his favorite Italian dishes.
He was an avid sports fan and we would tease that "his" four seasons were baseball, football, basketball and hockey. He was one of the best couch coaches around. You could hear him yelling at the TV across the street. He and his friend Larry could recap and talk about "the game" for hours on end. He was a huge Tampa Rays fan and attributed his "reverse psychology" to their current success.
Happy hour was held at 4pm like church. Everyone in his park would congregate daily, sometimes 4 people sometimes up to 25 or more. He loved that time spent with people that loved him so much. There was always good talks and lots of laughter. It was a highlight to his day. Ironically his time of passing was 3:59...just in time to make happy hour.
A mass will be held in Pop's honor on November 11. 2021 at Sacred Heart Church in Punta Gorda, an interment will be held at Royal Palms Memorial Gardens that same day. A celebration of life will be held in Punta Gorda and Connecticut at a later date. See royalpalmmemorial.com (search Gagliardi in the obituary section) for updated dates and times.
As Dad, Pop, Nick would say..."Toledo Blade"!
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