Daniel Riccio

Daniel J. Riccio, Jr., of East Hartford, Connecticut, died Thursday at the age of 87 after a courageous battle with cancer. Dan was predeceased by his parents, Daniel J. Riccio, Sr., and Edith (Baker) Riccio of Bristol, CT, his beloved wife of over 46 years Verna Lea (Daniels) Riccio, and his son-in-law Charles Gienty. He is survived by his loving children, Michael J. Riccio and his wife Carla of West Hartford, Deborah L. Riccio of West Hartford, Stephen Daniel Riccio of Deerfield Beach, FL, Christopher R. Riccio of East Hartford, and Katherine Jones and her husband Michael of Glastonbury; two grandsons, Jacob M. Jones and Joshua Q. Jones both of Glastonbury; his fourteen-year companion and best friend, Jane M. White of Manchester; a brother, Donald Riccio and his wife Joanne of Bristol; a brother-in-law, Bruce Daniels of Winnipeg, Canada; and many nieces, nephews, and dear friends.

Dan taught high school Math and Spanish in Groton, East Hartford, Enfield, and Newington, before taking a job at Bulkeley High School in Hartford where he taught for over twenty years before retiring. One could easily see the esteem in which his students held him by witnessing the affection and bantering that was invariably displayed when he bumped into a former student. A natural athlete and a former marine who served in the Korean War, Dan inspired respect in the classroom but both there and in life, rarely raised his voice or lost his temper.

Dan loved many things, UConn basketball, golf, fishing, card games, and humor. He was a master of the pun and while his family and friends always gave the obligatory groan when he made one, they marveled at his skill and would steal his jokes for later use. Dan also would often engage family members orally in algebraic equations when numerical opportunities presented themselves in the course of everyday life. Quite simply, he was always fun to be around in an easy-going, light-hearted way.

Above all, however, Dan was a family man. Throughout most of his life, he showed little inclination to travel far from the home and spent his time with his children, wife, and extended family. Dan was a natural handyman and would generously lend his ability to those of us in the family who did not share his gift. Dan and his wife, Lea, had a wonderful marriage, and after her death and his adult children left home, Dan and his companion, Jane, shared fourteen joyful years during which, they did, indeed, travel to most parts of the world. Dan had a special love for his grandsons, Jacob and Joshua, and would forego his customary modesty to brag about them.

In short, Dan Riccio lived an honorable, loving, productive life of exemplary decency. He will be missed.

Funeral service will be Tuesday (August 30, 2016) at 9:30 am from the D’ESOPO-East Hartford Memorial Chapel, 30 Carter Street, East Hartford with a Mass of Christian burial celebrated at 10:30 am at Blessed Sacrament Church, Cambridge Drive, East Hartford. Burial with military honors will follow at Green Cemetery, Hubbard Street, Glastonbury. Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home chapel on Monday (August 29, 2016) from 4-7 pm. Memorial contributions in Daniel’s name may be made to a favorite charity of the donor’s choice. For on-line expressions of sympathy to the family please visit www.desopo.com.