Angelo James Tiezzi

Angelo James "Jim" Tiezzi, 90, of Newington, CT, formerly of Berlin, CT and Fort Myers, FL, passed away on Wednesday April 29, 2015 after a brief illness. Born in Meriden, CT in 1924, Jim was the son of the late Attilio and Primetta Rosi Tiezzi. He attended Meriden public schools and graduated from the University of Connecticut in 1949 and the American College of Life Underwriters in 1957, where he received the professional degree of Chartered Life Underwriter. In 1962, he received a Certificate in Advanced Management from Princeton University. Jim was first employed as a claims examiner at the CT Department of Labor from 1949-1950, and later at the Prudential Insurance Company from 1950-1980 in various sales management positions in both Connecticut and Massachusetts. During his career, Jim was heavily involved in the underwriting community as the President of the Central Connecticut Association of Underwriters, the Director of the Connecticut State Association of Underwriters, the Director of the New Haven Life Underwriters Association, a member of the National Life Underwriters Association, and a member of the General Agents and Managers Association. After his retirement from Prudential in 1980, Jim stayed busy by establishing and managing the Jim Tiezzi Insurance Agency in Kensington and serving on the Insurance Committee of the Berlin Chamber of Commerce for 5 years. Jim was a proud U.S. Army Veteran of World War II and the Korean War. Jim served as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 25th Infantry Division during World War II and then as a Captain in the 3rd Infantry Division during the Korean War. He was the recipient of the Bronze Star and the Combat Infantry Badge. Jim maintained his ties to the armed forces long after he finished his service. He was a life member of the Berlin VFW #10732 and served as quartermaster for 5 years. He organized the Veterans of Heritage Cove in Ft. Myers, FL and served as president for 6 years. Jim was a life member of the Society of the 25th Infantry Division, as well as the Society of the 3rd Infantry Division, serving 12 years as president of the Florida Chapter of the Society of the 3rd Infantry Division, 3 years as the Eastern Region vice-president of the Society, and finally 2 years as the National President of the Society. He continued to hold a leadership role after his term as National President with a 2-year term as the Immediate Past President on the Society's Executive Board. Jim was also a prominent figure in his community, first in North Haven and then in Berlin. He served on Boy Scouts and Little League Baseball committees in North Haven. He was a 25-year member of the Berlin Lions Club and served 12 years as the Assistant Treasurer of the Berlin Fair. Jim celebrated his Italian heritage as a life member of the Italian Independent Political Club of Kensington. He served on various town boards and commissions including the North Haven Planning and Zoning Commission, the Worthington Fire District, and as Chairman of the Berlin Finance Board. In 1989, Jim took second place in his run for the office of Mayor of Berlin and subsequently served as Deputy Mayor from 1989 to 1991. Jim was also a dedicated member of the Catholic Church, serving on committees at his parishes in North Haven and Berlin. Jim was also a life member of the Knights of Columbus, attaining 4th Degree Member status. Jim had a passion for watching and playing sports, particularly baseball. He played summer leagues in Meriden and played three years on the Meriden High School varsity baseball team before playing on the freshman team at UCONN. For a short time, he played semi-pro baseball for the Meriden Barons. Jim also enjoyed his time playing soccer in high school. In his retirement, Jim spent time playing golf for many years in senior leagues in Berlin, Newington, and Fort Myers, Florida. Surviving Jim are his two sons, Thomas J. Tiezzi and his wife Patricia of Wethersfield, and Alan J. Tiezzi and his wife Janet of Dunstable, MA; a brother, Bernardo (Ben) J. Tiezzi and his wife Lydia of Middlefield; four granddaughters, Melissa Pearson and her husband Eric, Kathryn Marcotte and her husband Michael, Grace Tiezzi and Hope Tiezzi; and two great-grandchildren, Corinna and Colt Pearson; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his first wife, Elizabeth Otto Tiezzi and his second wife, Mary Janet (Daly) McMurray Tiezzi. Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 8, at 9 AM at Erickson-Hansen Funeral Home, 411 South Main St., New Britain followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 AM at the Church of the Holy Spirit, Newington. Burial, with military honors, will be at Sacred Heart Cemetery, Meriden. Calling hours are Thursday, May 7, from 5-7 PM at Erickson-Hansen Funeral Home, with a Berlin Lions Club memorial service to be held at 7 PM. In the spirit of Jim's overwhelming generosity to a broad range of charitable causes, in lieu of flowers, his family asks that donations be made to the charity of the donor's choice to honor Jim's memory.