William A. Gambacini, age 85, of Ansonia, passed away suddenly at home, with his wife and daughter by his side, on Saturday June 30, 2018.
Born July 22, 1932 in Shelton, he was the son of the late Attilio and Barbara Tonucci Gambacini.
Bill leaves behind his loving wife of 58 years, Frances “Honbunch” Pyrdol Gambacini, son Damian (Dawn) Gambacini, daughter Kathy Gambacini and daughter-in-law Eileen Gambacini. He was predeceased by younger son, Edward W. Gambacini. Bill also leaves behind 4 loving grandchildren, Brianna, Lydia, Lucia and Vincent Gambacini. Brother of Julia Natale; predeceased by sister Ida Francolini and brother Natale Marchetti. Survived by in-laws, Wanda Pyrdol, Ziggy and Shirley Pyrdol and Mary and Tommy Mulligan as well as many nieces and nephews.
Bill graduated from Shelton High School in 1950 and Bullard Haven Tech School in 1952. He worked at Wilson H. Lee in Orange and Currier Citizen in Hamden as a linotype operator, then at Sikorsky Aircraft for 20 years until retiring in 1999. Bill was loyal, hard-working and blessed with many good friends from school, work and church, especially his lifetime best friend Pete Vaccaro. Religion played a large part in Bill’s life. For 43 years, he was an active parishioner at St. Louis Church in West Haven, volunteering at many carnivals and bingo games and serving as a head usher. In 2007, he joined Holy Rosary Church in Ansonia. He would pray the Rosary every day. From his teen years on, Bill was an avid Yale sports fan, seeing many classic games at Yale Bowl, Ingalls Rink and Payne Whitney Gym (GO YALE!). On November 21, 1959, at the Yale-Harvard football game, Bill proposed to his Honbunch, Frances. Embarrassed by not being able to dance with her, Bill took Arthur Murray ballroom lessons and became a great polka dancer and life-long polka music lover. Bill’s other passions included playing pinochle with family (with his last victory this past Father’s Day), old movies (TCM) and WWII history. Most of all, Bill loved spending time with his family. He was a loyal husband who complimented his “honbunch” daily up to his last days and never stopped telling us she was the best part of his life. He was a loving father. We can still see him lugging Sunday newspapers into his car to help his sons deliver them, as well as hitting and catching baseballs, passing the football, throwing horseshoes, mowing the lawn, flipping burgers on a hibachi, belly dancing at a summer picnic, enjoying a beer and laughing so hard at the dinner table. We will all miss our Hon-Bunch, Dad, Grandpa, Uncle Bill and Bill so much. He loved us with his whole heart as we will always love him.
Visiting hours will be held Monday (TODAY) July 2, 2018, from 4 – 7 pm in the chapel of the SPINELLI-RICCIUTI/BEDNAR-OSIECKI FUNERAL HOME, 62 Beaver St., Ansonia. On Tuesday, his funeral will begin at 10:15 am from the funeral home, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am at Holy Rosary Church, 10 Father Salemi Dr., Ansonia. Interment will follow in Mt. St. Peter Cemetery in Derby.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice.
For online condolences and directions, please visit www.spinelliricciutifh.com
