Donald M. Antonio
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Donald M. Antonio, 90, passed away on Thursday, February 4, 2021 at Hartford Hospital. He was born on April 17, 1930 in Meriden, a son of the late Dominic Antonio and Helen (Michalak) Antonio and was a life-long resident and, for nearly fifty years, the beloved husband of the late Anna-Sue Ricci. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1951 until his honorable discharge in 1954 when, in partnership with his brother Alfred, he founded Antonio Brothers Builders, a long-running construction company. On retirement, he worked part-time for the Curtis Home as coordinator for a house care program for the elderly. He was a member of Our Lady Queen of Angels, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church Campus and former member of the Holy Name Society, the Meriden Jaycees, the Board of Directors for the Meriden Hall of Fame, Treasurer for the Rosa Ponselle Fund as well as life member of the Unison Club and Gallery 53. In addition to golfing, gardening, and leisure time at the beach cottage in Westbrook, he will be lovingly remembered as a photographer, opera enthusiast, and avid ballroom dance instructor with his partner Valerie Bubon.
Donald is survived by his two sons Mark and his wife Dennise of Old Saybrook, CT and Bruce and his wife Doreen of Millsboro, DE; three grandchildren Dominic, Alexandra, and Katherine; four great grandchildren Olivia and Gianna Antonio; Nathan and Elizabeth-Jane Gerrick; two brothers, Alfred and wife Janice and Bob and wife Nancy; several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by one brother Louis and two sisters Pauline and Marjorie.
There are no calling hours. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a mass of Christian burial to be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at Our Lady Queen of Angels, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church Campus. Interment with military honors will be at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Meriden. Please attend in accordance with CDC guidelines, wear face coverings and practice social distancing. Contributions in memory of Donald may be made to Our Lady Queen of Angels Parish, 109 Goodwill Ave., Meriden, CT 06451. Funeral arrangements entrusted to the Smith-Ruzzo Funeral Home, 450 Broad Street, Meriden, CT. For online expressions of sympathy visit: smithruzzofuneralhome.com