Richard
Garuti Sr., 83, of Kensington, passed away Monday afternoon at
Hospice in Branford with his loving wife of 57 years, Rose (Daddabbo)
Garuti by his side. Born in New Britain, the son of the late Joseph
and the late Julia (Catabrigga) Garuti, he graduated from New
Britain High School, served in the US Army in Korea and in the
Connecticut National Guard, and was part-owner of Ray's Garage with
his brother for 40 years before his retirement in 1989. Inducted
into the New England Auto Racers Hall of Fame, he and his brother
were considered New England auto racing pioneers, and were known
throughout New England for building midget and stock cars. They
built their first stock car for Plainville Stadium in the early 50's
and continued to construct winning cars for the next two-plus
decades, scoring on both the United Stock Club and NASCAR circuits
at Riverside, Cherry Park, Agawam, Thompson, Stafford Springs,
Waterford, and many other tracks. He enjoyed traveling, watching
football and basketball games and automobile racing, and was a great
lover of dogs, especially his boxers Duke and Sarge. Loving all
children, he will be remembered for his kindness and generosity. In
addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, Richard Garuti Jr.
and his wife Marjorie of Plantsville, a daughter and son-in-law,
Susan and John Sayers of Berlin, his beloved grandchildren, Katie
Parafati and her husband Enzo and their daughter Remi Carina
Parafati, Sarah Griffin and her husband Richard and their daughter
Lilly Joy Griffin, Karen Garuti, John Richard Sayers, and Richard
Garuti III, a brother and sister-in-law, Raymond and Irene Garuti of
Southington, two sisters, Eve Andre of Silver Springs, Maryland, and
Geraldine Mokulis of Southington, and many nieces, nephews,
great-nieces, and great-nephews. His family would like to thank
Apple Rehab in Plainville, Connecticut Hospice, and family and
friends, for their care and support.
A graveside service will be held Friday at 10 a.m. in West Lane
Cemetery on High Road, Kensington. Friends and relatives are invited
to call at Porter's Funeral Home, 111 Chamberlain Highway,
Kensington, on Thursday from 4-8 p.m. Directions to the funeral home
can be found at:
www.portersfuneral.com
Richard
Garuti Sr., 83, of Kensington, passed away Monday afternoon at
Hospice in Branford with his loving wife of 57 years, Rose (Daddabbo)
Garuti by his side. Born in New Britain, the son of the late Joseph
and the late Julia (Catabrigga) Garuti, he graduated from New
Britain High School, served in the US Army in Korea and in the
Connecticut National Guard, and was part-owner of Ray's Garage with
his brother for 40 years before his retirement in 1989. Inducted
into the New England Auto Racers Hall of Fame, he and his brother
were considered New England auto racing pioneers, and were known
throughout New England for building midget and stock cars. They
built their first stock car for Plainville Stadium in the early 50's
and continued to construct winning cars for the next two-plus
decades, scoring on both the United Stock Club and NASCAR circuits
at Riverside, Cherry Park, Agawam, Thompson, Stafford Springs,
Waterford, and many other tracks. He enjoyed traveling, watching
football and basketball games and automobile racing, and was a great
lover of dogs, especially his boxers Duke and Sarge. Loving all
children, he will be remembered for his kindness and generosity. In
addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, Richard Garuti Jr.
and his wife Marjorie of Plantsville, a daughter and son-in-law,
Susan and John Sayers of Berlin, his beloved grandchildren, Katie
Parafati and her husband Enzo and their daughter Remi Carina
Parafati, Sarah Griffin and her husband Richard and their daughter
Lilly Joy Griffin, Karen Garuti, John Richard Sayers, and Richard
Garuti III, a brother and sister-in-law, Raymond and Irene Garuti of
Southington, two sisters, Eve Andre of Silver Springs, Maryland, and
Geraldine Mokulis of Southington, and many nieces, nephews,
great-nieces, and great-nephews. His family would like to thank
Apple Rehab in Plainville, Connecticut Hospice, and family and
friends, for their care and support.