Paul DeSario
Bozrah — Paul F. DeSario, 93, of Bozrah, passed away peacefully at his daughter’s home May 31, 2022. Paul was born April 13, 1929, on Staten Island, N.Y., the son of the late Artillio and Mary Malerba DeSario.
Paul is survived by his two sons, Paul T. DeSario and lifelong partner Carol Young of Venice Beach, Fla., and Thomas J. DeSario and wife Urith of Venice Beach, Fla.; and his daughter Dawn M. Mazzarella of Bozrah; five grandchildren who call him “Poppy”: granddaughter Julie DeSario Oddo and husband Marc Oddo of Charlotte, N.C., granddaughter Leah Zorn DeSario of Lyme, grandson Jordan Zorn DeSario of Old Saybrook, and their mother Gert Zorn of Old Saybrook, grandson Joseph Paul Mazzarella and his wife Ashley of Milford, granddaughter Deborah Rose (Mazzarella) Perez and her husband Michael; and great-grandson Bradley Alexander Perez of Newport, R.I. There are many more nieces, nephews and cousins related by family and by love. Paul was predeceased by his beloved wife Patricia Helen (Selvidio) DeSario; son-in-law Salvatore Joseph Mazzarella; three brothers, Arthur, Al and Louis; and three sisters, Irene, Delores and Rosie.
With the early passing of his grandfather Paolo Malerba, Paul was brought by his family from his home on Staten Island, N.Y., to Norwich, to live with and take care of his grandmother Dora Malerba. In his youth, Paul worked on Malerba’s Farm during the summer where he learned to maintain all the commercial-sized refrigeration, air conditioning and mechanical units that were used to preserve the tons of vegetables grown. Paul pursued a HVAC career and also became a licensed electrician. With these mechanical degrees, he became the head of the maintenance department at United Nuclear Corporation in Montville, where he worked for 35 years. He retired when United Nuclear closed down and the Mohegan Tribal Nation was granted status on the former UNC property. Paul was an avid poker player and enjoyed his visits to the Mohegan Sun Poker Room where he socialized with many old and new friends. With his ever-present sense of humor, he would jokingly tell his wife that he was “going to the office,” because the casino just so happened to be built in the same spot where he had worked.
At the age of 17, he convinced his family that he was getting a job with the U.S. government and then promptly enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. He completed boot camp in South Carolina, and was honorably discharged in 1948, with the rank of corporal. After being discharged, Paul was called back into military service with the Connecticut National Guard to serve during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged from the National Guard with the rank of sergeant 1st class. Paul was also a long-standing and participating member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks in Norwich.
Paul met his wife, Patty at a basketball game at Norwich Free Academy. It was love at first sight. Patty and Paul were married at St. Mary’s Church in Greenville, Dec. 30, 1950. They joyfully celebrated 69 years of marriage in December of 2019.