Joseph B. Verrillo, III, 64

Joseph B. Verrillo, III, 64, of New Britain, passed away on Friday, Aug. 30, 2013 after a long illness.

Joe was predeceased by his parents Joseph Verrillo, Jr. and Florence (Fedorovich) Verrillo, and brother John J. Verrillo.

Joe is survived by his beloved partner Carol Nicolucci; his brother Gary Verrillo and fiancée Elizabeth Hamisevich; and by many family members, godchildren, and devoted friends and music colleagues.

Joe began playing saxophone at age 8. He was a professional musician and bandleader for his entire life and a masterful jazz and pop saxophone and woodwind player. As leader of the band Moondance, he performed throughout the northeast region for countless social functions.

Joe was a respected musical instrument technician who passed his skills on to many apprentices. His repair talents served thousands of students in CT, MA, and NY schools.

Joseph studied business management at Central Connecticut State University. His instrument rental and repair services were available first at the Burritt Music Shop in New Britain, and then at the Apple Music Company in Southington.

He was a member of the National Association of Professional Band Instrument Repair Technicians, the National Association of Music Merchants, the Hartford-New Haven-New Britain Federation of Musicians Local 400 and 440, and was affiliated with the National Educational Music Company, Ltd.

Calling hours are Friday, Sept. 6 from 4 - 8 p.m. at the Burritt Hill Funeral Home, 332 Burritt Street, New Britain. A Memorial Musical Tribute will be presented from 6:45 to 7:45 p.m. Friends and family will gather on Saturday, Sept. 7, at 10 a.m. for a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Maurice Church, 100 Wightman Road, New Britain. Joe will be laid to rest in St. Mary Cemetery, 1309 Stanley Street, New Britain.

To share your sorrow with Joe's family, please visit us at www.burritthill.com.