Final Salute

HARWINTON – Severino J. “Tito” Rotondo, 92, of Harwinton, husband of the late Marion (Mikolajcik) Rotondo, passed away Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023, surrounded by family.

He was born May 1, 1930, in Avon, son of the late Adolph and Clorinda “Pia” (Corsini) Rotondo. He graduated from A.I. Prince Technical School in 1948. Tito was a veteran of the Korean War, serving in the U.S. Naval Construction Battalions (Seabees).

Very much a family man, he co-founded A. Rotondo & Sons, a precast concrete manufacturing company, with his father and brothers in 1953. Along with his brothers and longtime friend Frank Lamonica, he owned and operated the company until 1994, building it into the largest manufacturer of precast products on the East Coast.

Driven by his entrepreneurial spirit, he went on to cofound Bel Compo Golf Course with his brothers and friends in Avon. Tito met the love of his life, Marion, at 9 years old. They married on Jan. 10, 1953, and were inseparable during their 64 years of marriage until Marion’s passing in 2017.

Tito and Marion built a life centered around family and the importance of time spent together; a sentiment so strong that it has and will continue to traverse generations. He was especially dedicated to his grandchildren, supporting their love of competitive horseback riding, as well as being the first to teach them how to drive.

A resident of Nantucket, Mass., for more than 30 years, he enjoyed spending summers boating and fishing with his family and local friends. Tito was an avid hunter and a lifetime member of the Kingdom Game Club in New Hartford, where there is a meadow named after him in his honor.

He was also a lifetime member of the Prince Thomas of Savoy Society and VFW Post No. 3272, both of Avon. He was a member of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Harwinton, as well as the Lions Club of Harwinton.

Tito had a quiet, but powerful, presence. He was a teacher and a leader for many who knew him, and his work ethic and generosity were unparalleled and respected. Tito left his legacy on this world, and it is a better place for having had him in it.

He is survived by his four children, Gail Rotondo-Gabriel and her husband Mark of Harwinton, Richard Rotondo and his wife Mary Ellen of Alexandria, Va., Carol (Rotondo) Byus and her husband Frank of Canton, and John Rotondo and his wife Hee Sun of Arlington, Va.; eight grandchildren, Alexandra, Tyler, Jessica, Samuel, Charles “Chase”, Grace, John and Christian; three great-grandchildren, Pia, Alwyn and Lela; and a great-grandson on the way; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to his wife, he was predeceased by his grandson Peter; sister Clara and brothers Freddie, Tony and Aldo.

Tito’s family will receive friends on Thursday, Feb. 16, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Carmon Funeral Home & Family Center, 301 Country Club Road, Avon. Family and friends may gather at Carmon’s at 9:15 a.m. Friday, Feb. 17, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at the Church of St. Ann, 289 Arch Road, Avon. Burial with military honors will be in St. Ann’s Cemetery, Avon.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Prince Thomas of Savoy, 32 Old Farms Road, Avon, CT 06001 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

The family of Tito Rotondo would like to thank the caring staff of Hartford Hospital, Nurse Association of Litchfield County, and Polish Helping Hands.

For directions or condolences, please visit carmonfuneralhome.com.