Salvatore Santo Petruzzello, 77, of Woodbridge, passed away peacefully with his family by his side on August 5, 2026. Salvatore, known as Sal, was born on December 11, 1948, to the late Santo and Anne (Scirpo) Petruzzello in Ansonia, Connecticut.
He was a 1966 graduate of Mount Saint Michael Academy, and a 1970 graduate of Arkansas College, where he met his lifelong best friend, Cliff. The two remained incredibly close and spoke on the phone almost every night. Sal was married to his loving wife, Agnes (Coppola) for 35 years. They lived in Woodbridge for their entire married life together, with many summers spent visiting family and friends in Maine. They loved going on walks, getting Frappuccinos at Starbucks, and playing scratch-off lottery tickets together.
Sal is survived by his brother, Santo “Shooky” and his wife, Sue. Sal thought the world of his older brother and they would talk to each other every day, sometimes even three times per day. He also leaves behind his three beloved daughters: Debbie Petruzzello; Kelly Bobbie and her husband, Dan; and Sally Ann Petruzzello and her husband, Steve Caplette. Sal was also “Pop Pop” to six grandchildren, Andrea, Michael, Matthew, Samantha, Nicole, and Christopher “Buddy”. He was incredibly proud of each one of them and all they have accomplished.
Sal was predeceased by his brothers, Anthony and Sebastian “Babe.”
Sal grew up in Ansonia, where he started working for his family’s dairy farm, Sound View Dairy Farm, at a very young age. He found his love for driving trucks at the young age of 13, delivering milk throughout the Valley. He went on to drive delivery trucks for his brother Tony at Petruzzello Transport Inc., followed by positions with Country Home Bakery and Ryder Transportation Services. Sal eventually traded his truck keys for walking shoes when he began his career with the United States Postal Service, where he worked for 15 years and walked 7-10 miles per day delivering mail throughout the community. After retiring, Sal found a way to stay just as busy, returning to where it all started– Petruzzello Transport Inc. This time, he worked alongside his niece, Cheryl LaPaglia and her husband Sal. Even though Cheryl was his boss, the two shared a special bond that was much more like best friends than uncle and niece.
He also leaves behind his great-nephew, David, and great-niece, Alyse.
Sal spent much of his free time with his chosen family at the Ansonia Rod & Gun Club. He had been a member of the gun club since his teenage years and served as the Vice President for nearly 5 years. He was an avid trap and skeet shooter, and you could always find Sal at the Club every Sunday, playing cards with friends and making sure everything was in order. He took deep pride in caring and maintaining the club, and his unwavering dedication was apparent until the end.
Sal was also deeply loved by his neighbors; Amar and Kristi Bellara and their children, Milan and Sienna; Ryan and Katelyn Calabrese and their children, Emma, Teagen, and Nora; Davi Slif-Stein and Rachel Forbes and their children, Bailey and Kaya; and Eric and Rebecca Costa and their children, Cadence, Eliot, and Daisy.
The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to their extended family, friends, and the healthcare staff at Yale Hospital for the love, support, and care they provided.
Friends may call on Saturday, August 8 from 9:00 a.m. to 12 NOON at The Jenkins King & Malerba Funeral Home, 12 Franklin St. Ansonia. A Funeral service will then begin at 12 NOON. Burial follows in Mt. St. Peter Cemetery in Derby.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for all donations to be made to Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) for Pancreatic Cancer research.