Belisario Nino DiTaranto

Belisario Nino DiTaranto, “Nino”, 93, devoted husband for 55 years of his

beloved wife, the late Gertrude Marie DiTaranto (nee “Gorizia Maria

Melillo”), departed this life peacefully on Sunday, August 9, 2020, in

Marlborough, after a period of declining health which included a May bout

with COVID. Nino was born on November 25, 1926, in Gravina di Puglia,

Bari, Italy, to the late Domenico and Anna Nicola (Pappalardi) DiTaranto,

and immigrated to Stamford in 1957, after marrying his beautiful bride, the

American-born daughter of Italian immigrants who met him on a trip to Italy.

In his youth, Nino fantasized about a life in the States, the land of

opportunity, where he imagined a cozy house with two cars in the driveway

and a beautiful garden. With Gertie by his side, he found the American

dream through hard work and a conscientious approach, despite a limited

education. Nino sacrificed his academic dreams after seeing his six sisters

toiling on the farm in the hot sun. Contrary to his father’s wishes, he

decided to “throw away his books”, as he put it, to lessen his sisters’ labors.

Before leaving Italy, Nino also led crews paving roads, but it was the 32

years as a machine operator at Pitney Bowes in Stamford that he was most

proud of. He earned numerous annual awards for perfect attendance and

worked many hours of overtime. He was “never afraid of hard work” and

was always a wonderful provider for his lucky wife and daughter who never

lost sight of his above-and-beyond efforts to give them the best life

possible.

Like Gertie, Nino loved music and together they passed this passion on

to their grateful daughter and grandchildren. Whether it was opera or

popular music, Nino sang his favorite tunes in Italian and English. Known

​ as the songbird at the nursing home, he serenaded those within earshot

with Italian opera or classic Italian music like “Vicino ‘O Mare”, and popular

music like his favorites, “Somewhere My Love” and “Please Release Me”.

Nino appreciated the beauty in nature and always had unusual flowers in

his garden while also tending to tomatoes and basil and had a talent for

shaping treetops and bushes into perfectly rounded shapes. His appetite and appreciation

for food, especially Italian cuisine, were as big as his loving heart. Directed

by Gertie’s father in his father-in-law’s cellar, he was central to the Melillo

homemade wine-making process that included many family helpers and

culminated in a feast of roasted chestnuts.

A devout Catholic with unwavering faith, Nino regularly attended mass

with his family prior to his declining health and was blessed to attend

monthly mass and receive weekly Holy Communion at the nursing home.

Nino was a very proud member of the Gravinese Mutual Aid Society in

Stamford and served this philanthropic brotherhood as president for a term.

He thoroughly enjoyed his brief residence at the Florence Lord Senior

Housing Center in Marlborough where he moved to be closer to his

daughter and her family after Gertie passed, and his afternoons at the

Marlborough Senior Center, where he made many friends and shared

many laughs.

Besides his parents, Nino was preceded by an unborn son, and, in Italy,

six sisters,Teresa Cappiello, Maria Trionfo, Giacomina Raguso, Eufemia

Ventola, Rosa DiTaranto, Donatella Laddaga (and their spouses), and a

niece and two nephews.

Nino leaves his beloved daughter and son-in-law, Marianne and Ed

Matunas of Marlborough, and his two adored grandchildren, Adrienne

Matunas of Rutland, Vermont, and Greg Matunas of College Station, Texas.

Also missing him are 17 nieces and nephews in Italy, five nieces and

nephews in Connecticut (on Gertie’s side), and their families. Nino leaves

behind so many who love him, but he is finally reunited with his beloved

Gertie and the rest of his family who have been patiently waiting for him,

and this gives his family peace. It is not “Goodbye”, it is just “See You

Later”...We Love You So Much!!!”

After a morning viewing at Spencer Funeral Home, East Hampton, a

beautiful funeral mass was celebrated at St. John Fisher Church in

After a morning viewing at Spencer Funeral Home, East Hampton, a

beautiful funeral mass was celebrated at St. John Fisher Church in

​ Marlborough, on August 14, 2020. Entombment followed at St. John’s

Cemetery, Darien. Due to COVID restrictions, a Celebration of Life will be

scheduled at a later time.

Nino’s family would like to thank the staff of the Marlborough Health Care

& Rehabilitation Center, who took such compassionate and tender loving

care of Nino for almost three years and his parish family at St. John Fisher

Church who embraced him and fed him spiritually until his passing.

Memorial contributions in Nino’s name may be made to Catholic Relief

Services, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the Alzheimer’s

Association, or the Roy B. Pettengill Ambulance Association.

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