SOMERS, CT - Frederick F. "Fred" Petrucci, 77, died Monday, Feb. 14th, 2011, at his home in Somers after a battle with cancer. He was born Jan. 24, 1934 in Meriden, CT and graduated Meriden High School, Class of 1952. He received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from General Motors Institute (Flint, MI) and an MBA from American International College (Springfield, MA). In 1958, he married Barbara J. Schott of Wallingford and together they shared 53 happy years and raised four children. Fred was a long time resident of Longmeadow, MA and he built and enjoyed a summer home on Leadmine Lake in Sturbridge, MA. For more than 40 years, he worked for Henry Filters of Bowling Green, OH on the sales, design, and installation of liquid filtration systems for industrial applications. He applied his knowledge of fluid mechanics to serve as the water and sewer commissioner for the town of Longmeadow in the mid-1970s and he helped protect the water quality of Leadmine Lake through his volunteer work with the Leadmine Homeowners Association. He was a congregant of St. Adalbert's Church in Enfield, CT. Fred loved to swim, scuba dive, play tennis, and water ski. He would spend time outdoors whenever possible and was frequently hiking, dropping a line to fish, or taking to the woods to hunt deer or turkey. He was always ready to help a friend or neighbor. He enjoyed fine wine, travel, music and music boxes, good food, and sharing a funny story with friends and family, even if that story reflected badly on him. He is survived by his loving wife, Barbara; his beloved daughters Geralyn Prusinski of Elburn, IL; Cheryl Armata of Suffield, CT; Beth Petrucci-Cooper of Tucson, AZ; together with their respective spouses: Tom Prusinski, Barry Armata and Carrie Petrucci-Cooper. He is also survived by his four grandchildren: Kyle Prusinski of Anchorage, AK, Nikky Prusinski of Elburn, IL, and Peter and Paul Armata of Suffield, CT, each of whom brought a smile to his face and made him proud. He was preceded in death by his beloved son, Frederick W., age 28, June 2, 1988. His family will receive friends from 9:00 to 10:30 AM on Thursday, Feb. 17th, 2011, at the Nicholson & Carmon Funeral Home, 443 East St. (Rt. 159), Suffield, followed by a Memorial Mass of Christian Burial, at 11:00 AM at St. Adalbert's Church, Enfield, CT. Burial will be private at the request of his family. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations to the Alzheimer's Association, CT Chapter, 279 New Britain Rd, Suite 5, Kensington, CT 06037.

[Published in The Springfield Republican, Wednesday, February 16, 2011]