Obituary of Louis V. Costanzo

Louis V. Costanzo, 93, of Bradenton, Florida died peacefully on July 18, 2014 surrounded by family, friends and his caregivers. He is survived by four children, Beverlee Costanzo and William Costanzo (Michele) of Bradenton, Florida, Gayle Van Pelt, of Waterbury and James Costanzo (Debbie) of Bristol. He has seven grandchildren, fourteen great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. He is also survived by his sister Mrs. Suzanne Boyko of Port St. Lucie, FL, his sisters-in-law, Mary Costanzo of Bridgeport, Anne Costanzo of Tampa, FL and Linda Rich of Deerfield Beach, FL and many nieces and nephews. Mr. Costanzo was predeceased by his oldest son Louis "Johnny" Costanzo, in 1997, his former wife, Ann Guranovitz in 2013 and nine brothers and sisters. Mr. Costanzo was a member of the "Greatest Generation" who served his God, his country and family with honor. Born to Antonio and Sara Costanzo in Bridgeport, he lived there for more than 70 years before moving to Huntington in 1992 and then to Bradenton, Florida in 2003. After the death of his father during the Great Depression, Mr. Costanzo sacrificed his personal goals to help his family survive by shining shoes and selling newspapers each day. In his teens, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and was assigned to a camp in Deaver, Wyoming where he worked with other young American men to build roads, walls and other structures. After his discharge from the CCC he returned to Bridgeport, married and began his training as a carpenter. Again he sacrificed his personal goals and joined the U.S. Army and was assigned to the 9201st Medical Transportation Unit and spent the war working with injured veterans. After World War II, Mr. Costanzo completed his education and training as a carpenter and began a forty year career as a general contractor and union carpenter. He was very proud that he fulfilled one of his late father's dreams by forming Costanzo Construction Company with his brothers Dominick and Joseph and then designing/building many homes in the Greater Bridgeport area in the 1950's and 60's. Before retiring in 1985, he worked on the construction of I-95, the Route 25/8 Connector and many other large projects around greater Bridgeport. These homes and other structures still stand today as a testimony to his successful professional life. To those who knew him personally, Louis Costanzo is known as an incredibly strong man, who possessed equal strength, compassion and love. He believed in being/playing fair in all aspects of life and for protecting those who could not fight or speak for themselves. He had great love for family. He adored and was adored in return by his parents, brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, cousins and other extended family. However, his greatest love was for his children and grandchildren. Simply put, he was the greatest father and grandfather in the world. He was a man of strength, honor and dignity with unconditional, unwavering and limitless love. Funeral services will take place on Thursday, July 24, 2014 at 9:00 a.m. in the Abriola Parkview Funeral Home, 419 White Plains Road, Trumbull, and at 10:00 a.m. in St. Andrew Church, Bridgeport for a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment with military honors will follow in St. Michael Cemetery, Stratford. Relatives and friends may call on Wednesday from 4-8 p.m.