Obituary of Joseph P. Micalizzi, Jr.
Joseph P. Micalizzi, Jr., age 60, of Fairfield, beloved husband of Dianne Wells Micalizzi, died suddenly on Sunday, March 28, 2010 in St. Vincent Medical Center. Born in Bridgeport on July 16, 1949, he was a son of Ann DeStefano Micalizzi of Bridgeport and the late Joseph P. Micalizzi Sr.
He was a graduate of Notre Dame High School and had also attended Southern Connecticut State University. Joe started his fire service career in 1977 as a firefighter with the Bridgeport Fire Department. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 1988, and then House Captain the same year. In 1989, he was promoted into the Fire Prevention Division of the Bridgeport Fire Department where he worked his way up to Acting Fire Marshal in 1996. As a member of the Bridgeport Fire Department he accomplished several career milestones including: commanding officer for Bridgeport Arson Investigation Unit, expert witness designation by Superior Court in Fire and Arson Investigation, expert witness in fire and arson investigation for the Connecticut Bar Association Trial Advocacy Institute and member of the Mayors Task Force on Code Enforcement. Joe also served in the Connecticut National Guard where his unit was awarded two service ribbons for actions taken in response to an ice storm and civil unrest in New Haven. On April 12, 1999, Joe was appointed Fire Marshal for the Town of Wallingford. He remained an active part of fire safety as a member of the Connecticut Fire Marshals Association where he served on the Board of Directors. He served as the current President of the New Haven/Fairfield Fire Marshals Association and was a member of the Office of the State Fire Marshals Training Council. He was a member of the International Association Arson Investigators.
In addition to his wife and mother, survivors include a son, Joseph P. Micalizzi III and a daughter, Cara Micalizzi, both of Fairfield, a sister Joanne Valluzzo and her husband Michael of Trumbull, brother- and sister-in-law, Larry and Mary Ann Wells of Stratford and his granddaughter, Sydney Rose Micalizzi as well as many aunts, an uncle, cousins, nieces and nephews.
Friends are invited to meet directly in St. Anthony of Padua Church, 149 S. Pine Creek Rd., Fairfield on Thursday, April 1, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. for a reading of the Liturgy of the Word. Interment will follow in St. Michael Cemetery, Stratford. Family and friends may call on Wednesday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at The Abriola Parkview Funeral Home, 419 White Plains Road, Trumbull.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Connecticut Burns Care Foundation, 601 Boston Post Rd., Milford, CT 06460.