Mr Attilio A. Topazio

Mr. Attilio A. 'Teet' Topazio, age 90, of Bristol, died peacefully, Monday, April 29, 2013 at Cortland Place, Greenville, surrounded by his loving children. He was the former husband of the late Leonora (Saccoccia) Topazio and Linda Congdon-Marr of Brooklyn, CT. Born in Bristol, and a resident for many years, he was a son of the late Enrico and Angelina (Pacelli) Topazio. He served as a technician 4th grade in the US Army during WWII, he was stationed in Oakridge, TN and was part of the team that made the atomic bomb. He received multiple Masters Degrees from the University of Rhode Island and was a high school teacher of Physics, Chemistry and Math for many years including South Kingstown High School, Evanston East High School, Warwick Veterans High School, taught on the staff of Louisiana State University and finally ended his career with the Vision Quest Program, teaching on a wagon train out west, in 1993 after over 50 years as an educator. He coached football, baseball and basketball at high schools where he taught. Umpired, officiated, refereed baseball, basketball and football from pee-wee to college level. Teet was actively involved with sports his whole life and officiated until the age of 82, as well as playing many years as a baseball catcher for amateur league teams. Teet was inducted into the Bristol Athletic Hall of Fame in 1984. He was also well known for the beautiful music he made with his harmonica and spoons and his incredible artistic ability, especially caricatures. Best known to his kids as the traveling man, he had a full life and that where ever he may have rested his head and lived, Bristol was always his home. He is survived by five children, Stephen Topazio and his wife, Beth of Tiverton, Daniel Topazio and his girlfriend, Nicole of Warren, Jessica DiCostanzo and her husband, Don of Woodstock, CT., Tanya Topazio of Stateville, NC and Taryn Novotny and her husband, Andrew of Brooklyn, CT, two grandchildren, Melissa Jendzejec-Blanchard and her husband, Gregory Blanchard and Dezo Novotny and two great grandsons, Zachary and Joshua Blanchard, and a brother, William 'Gut' Topazio of Huntington, Long Island, NY. In addition to his parent and former wife, he was preceded in death by brothers and sisters, Edmund, Angelo and Mary Calandra, Michael, Frank, Arturo 'Tut' Topazio, Rachel Ouellette, Enes Kennelly and Gemma Murphy. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial Monday, May 6, 2013 at 10:00 AM in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 141 State Street, Bristol. Burial with Military Honors will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery, Chestnut Street, Bristol. Visiting hours are respectfully omitted. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675 or online at www.woundedwarriorproject.org For online condolences, shared memories, information and directions go to www.sansonefuneralhome.com

Service Information Cemetery St. Mary's Cemetery Chestnut Street Bristol, RI --> Service Monday May 6, 2013 10:00 AM Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church 141 State St. Bristol, RI 02809 -->