Frank Fantozzi

Frank Fantozzi passed away on Thursday, September 5, 2019, at the age of 94.  Frank was born in Torrington, Connecticut o January 6, 1925, to Frederick and Eliza Fantozzi and was a lifetime resident of Torrington and later in life spent the winter months in Jupiter Island, Florida.  At the age of 18 he joined the United States Air Force and was stationed in England.  From there, he flew more than 30,000 miles in 35 missions over Europe as a tail gunner on a B-17 Flying Fortress with the Eighth Air Force.  He was awarded the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf clusters for his service.

Frank returned to Torrington from the war and married Marie Zele, his high school sweetheart.  Always interested in cars, Frank went to work for his father-in-law at Zele Chevrolet as a Parts Manager before becoming a Salesman.  He then was General Sales Manager at the Danis Chevrolet Company in Terryville, CT.  Friendly and hard-working, Frank became one of the top salesmen in Connecticut and won many sales contests that Chevrolet offered at that time.  Over the years, he won trips to China, Alaska, France, and Italy.  Frank also loved to golf and was a member of The Torrington Country Club.  At the time of his death, he was the second oldest active member of the Elks Club in Torrington.

Frank is survived by his wife of seventy-two years, two children, Thomas Fantozzi of Torrington and Diane Abrams of Larchmont, New York, and a granddaughter, Tasia White of Danbury, Connecticut.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, September 11, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. at Cook Funeral Home, 82 Litchfield St., Torrington.  Burial will follow at St. Francis New Cemetery with full military honors accorded.  Relatives and friends may call from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Cook Funeral Home.

Condolences may be sent to the Fantozzi family by visiting www.cookfuneralhomect.com