Obituary: Salvatore Verdi

VERDI, Salvatore P.

Salvatore P. Verdi, 68, of New Britain, passed away peacefully on April 5, 2012. Sal was born in Belvedere, Sicily on August 14, 1943, the son of Paul and Frances (D'Amico) Verdi. He graduated from New Britain High School and attended Central Connecticut State College on a football scholarship where he received a Bachelor's and Master's Degree in Education and Sixth Year in Counseling. Upon graduation, he was drafted by the Houston Oilers professional football team and later returned to New Britain to pursue a career in education. Sal dedicated 39 years to his hometown beginning as a sixth grade teacher at Jefferson Elementary School, then teaching social studies at Slade Junior High School and finishing his career as a guidance counselor and coach at New Britain High School. Sal dedicated his time to enriching the lives of others. Through teaching, counseling, coaching and community service as a City Alderman, he had an enormous impact on all those with whom he worked. He was a man of strong values, strong conviction and an enormous love for his family. He is survived by Beverly (Kania), his loving wife of 44-years, and his three children, Todd Verdi and his wife Heather of Plantsville, Danielle Salina and her husband Adam of Berlin, and Salvatore (Tory) Verdi, Jr. and his wife Heather of Lawrence, KS. Grandpa will be missed by his nine grandchildren: Zachary, Hunter, Todd, Jr., Olivia, Julia, Isabella, Tyler, Avery and Bradyn. He also leaves his sister Sally Pizzi of Palm City, FL, and his sister Frances Gerent and her husband Thomas of Berlin.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, April 11 at 10 a.m. at St. Paul Church, 485 Alling Street, Kensington. Burial will be at the convenience of the family. Friends may call on Tuesday from 4-7 p.m. at the Kenney-Luddy Funeral Home, 205 South Main Street, New Britain. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Salvatore Verdi Scholarship Fund c/o New Britain High School, 110 Mill Street, New Britain, CT 06051.