Michael R. Vaccaro

Michael graduated from JM Wright Technical School in Stamford. He went on to attend the

Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in Hyde Park, NY, graduating as a Chef. He married Leatha and together they shared 33 years of marriage. He was a private chef for the past 10 years. Prior to being a private chef, Mike owned his own restaurant, Grassy Flats, and a lunch deli/catering, Chef Mike’s, in Tequesta.

Michael was a family man, a loving husband and father, and a great friend to many. He loved sharing recipes with family and friends, giving cooking lessons to his daughter, sons, and son-in-law, playing the guitar, helping with his daughter’s Halloween costumes, singing, dancing, and celebrating special times. Mike was an avid fisherman and known as the “Pompano King.” He loved hitting the Florida beaches every fishing season with his son Chris, dear friend Hans, and the rest of the fishing crew. He also enjoyed fly fishing with his sons Michael and Chris, grandson Mikey and cousin Wayne in the Connecticut and Montana rivers and streams.

Mike loved life. He was always smiling, cracking jokes, being Mr. Fix-it — fixing things around the house, watching movies — everything from alien takeovers to romantic comedies (Legally Blonde and The Proposal being a couple of his favorites). Mike made sure his family and friends knew how much he loved them. The aliens came and got him too soon, and he will be dearly missed.

Mike is survived by his wife Leatha; his son, Michael Vaccaro (Krystle) and grandchildren, Mikey, Madison and Marilena of Newtown CT; his son, Christopher Vaccaro (Jaime) and granddaughters, Angelina and Isabella of Stuart FL; his daughter Michela Peterson (Nick) of Tequesta FL; his daughter, Rebecca Vaccaro-Jones and grandchildren, Priscilla, Lucas, Jacob, Matthew, Lorelei, of CT; three brothers, Lenny Vaccaro of St Augustine FL, Sandy Vaccaro (Marilena) of Chester, CT and Marty Vaccaro (Kathy) of Pataskala OH; Goddaughter, Erica Jewel Vaccaro of Chester CT and a Godson, William Tweedle of Jacksonville FL.

He is predeceased by his father, Sanford V Vaccaro; his mother, Rose Vaccaro; his father in law, Harold Carpenter and his mother in law, Verniece Carpenter.

There will be a celebration of Life for Mike in the fall. Donations may be made to The American Cancer Society.