Obituary: Joseph F. Valenti Sr.

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Joseph F. Valenti Sr.
Joseph F. Valenti Sr.

SOUTHBURY — Joseph F. Valenti Sr., 73, was lost to his loving wife and children June 15.

Joe was born in Stamford, March 17, 1943. Joe served in the U.S. Navy starting in 1961. He told many stories of his time in the service, reminiscing about the places he had been, but the part of his service he was most proud of was when his ship was sent by President Kennedy to patrol the waters off Cuba during the missile crisis.

Joe always had an entrepreneurial spirit, he was an owner of several businesses including Ichabod’s Restaurant & Bar and Valenti’s Commercial and Residential Painting, both of Norwalk. In 1987, Joe moved to Beacon Falls/Naugatuck to raise his family. Joe worked and retired from Hayden Switch and Instruments of Waterbury in 2005. After several years of retirement and the loss of his buddy/father-in-law he went back to work for Munson Lovetere Funeral Home, a career he entertained as a younger man. Joe was happy to have found such great friendships and long lasting connections with the people he worked with.

Joe was an avid sports enthusiast. His love for baseball continued throughout his lifetime, as a player in the Springdale Athletics and a Babe Ruth coach, coaching Bobbie Valentine in Stamford. Coaching his own son and serving as a director at Union City Little League in Naugatuck as well as teaching his daughter how to play softball gave him much pride and joy. Joe enjoyed and played many other sports, including golf, he loved to tell of how he hit a hole-in-one in a golf tournament sponsored by FedEx. He enjoyed many years as a member of the Wednesday Night Golf league at Highland Greens of Prospect and bowling with the Eyelematic duck-pin league. Joe loved the New York Yankees, and after rooting for them all summer, come fall he looked forward to the start of the UConn basketball season, and then football season, cheering on his New York Giants.

Beyond anything else, Joe Valenti’s main love was his family. They enjoyed many camping trips with family and friends, always looking forward to a new destination and a new place to explore with his kids. Celebrating holidays with family and friends and always happy to host a party for any occasion.

He was predeceased by his parents, Frank and Anna Valenti of Stamford; his in-laws Joy and Gib Gibson (his best buddy) of Woodbury. He leaves behind his wife, Barbara (Gibson) Valenti; a son, Joseph (J) Valenti and his wife Kimberly (Scribe) Valenti of Bristol; and his daughter, “Beanie” Christina Valenti of Southbury. He will be truly missed and always loved.

The family would like to express their deepest appreciation to those who cared for and offered kindness and support to Joe and the family during his illness.

A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, June 25 at 10 a.m., graveside at New North Cemetery, Woodbury. Friends may call Friday, June 24 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Munson Lovetere Funeral Home, 235 Main St. North, Southbury.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Union City Little League, Naugatuck c/o Mark Nofri 43 Fawn Meadow Drive, Naugatuck, CT 06770

To leave an online condolence, visit www.munsonloveterefuneralhome.com.