It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Dr. Lewis J. Annunziato. Lew died peacefully on Tuesday, February 16th at Norwalk Hospital, just seven months after his beloved wife of 65 years, Janet, succumbed to Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Doctors believe Lewis died of aspirating Pneumonia, a common complication of Parkinson’s Disease, something he had been battling bravely for the last 10 years.
Dr. Lewis J. Annunziato. https://hoytfuneralhome.com/tribute/details/1479/Dr-Lewis-Annunziato/obituary.html#tribute-start
A native to his beloved Town of New Canaan, Lew was born on March 30, 1926 at his home on Locust Avenue. He was the second son of the late Metz and Louise Annunziato. He graduated New Canaan High School in 1943 and immediately joined the US Navy to attend their technical schools. From there, he was dispatched to the Marine Corps as a Marine Combat Medic. He spent 18 months in the Central Pacific where he took part in the Guam and two Iwo Jima campaigns.
Upon his return, he attended the University of Bridgeport followed by graduate work at Temple University in Philadelphia, to study Dentistry. After graduation, he opened his own dental office in New Canaan and practiced there for over 40 years.
In addition to being a lifelong resident, Lewis was passionate about the town he loved and despite being busy building his practice and helping to raise his own family of four children, he would eventually accumulate almost 60 years of service to the Town of New Canaan as an active volunteer in the community and in town government.
In his early years, Lew believed in creating opportunities and places where families in town could grow and play. As a result, he became one of the founding members and Building Chairman of The Lake Club, as well as a member of the original Board of Directors for the YMCA, in its infancy. In addition to being a long-term volunteer Fire Fighter, he continued to serve New Canaan by starting the very first Fire Commission, of which he was Chairman for six years.
In the 1980’s he established the first Emergency Medical Commission which included building and financing its headquarters and Ambulance Corps and was also a member of the Planning and Zoning Commission during the revision of the Town Master Plan.
Of all the many posts he held in his almost 60 decades of Service to the town, far too many to mention all here, none was more beloved than being a member of the Town Council for 22 years. During that time, he took charge of the Safety Committee for 10 years, Vice Chairman for two, and ultimately his proudest achievement of becoming Chairman.
In all Lewis left behind multiple, tangible legacies of his commitment to the betterment of his town of which adored. His family is so proud of him and the life he lived. They are comforted by the fact that he is reunited with the love of his life wife and soul mate, Janet Brown Annunziato.
He is survived by his four children: Mark Annunziato of New Canaan, David Annunziato of Fairfield, John Annunziato of Ridgefield, Amy Sullivan of Norwalk, as well as his seven grandchildren.
His funeral took place shortly after his death with a private service at Hoyts Funeral Home in New Canaan.
[This obituary appeared on the Hoyt Funeral Home website.]
On behalf of the current Town Council I’d like to express a thank you to his family along with our great sadness in losing one of New Canaan’s great heroes. Lew Annunziato contributed so greatly to the character of New Canaan for longer than most of us have been alive. He was a founder of many of the New Canaan institutions (YMCA, lake club, Fire Commission, NCVAC) we hold dear and his 22 years on the Town Council is frankly awesome. We’ll begin the Town Council meeting tonight with a moment of silence and remembrance in his honor and invite his family to join us.
Dr. Annunziato is a true New Canaanite! My dad enjoyed working with him on the Town Council for all those years! So many great stories!
God bless him.
My condolences to the Annunziato family.
I have so many wonderful memories of Mr. Annunziato, as I was lucky enough to have spent a lot of time with his daughter Amy at their house on Ferris Hill Road. He was such a kind, fun and very generous man who always included me for many summers (the townie from Summer Street) when it was time to go swim at the Field Club or at the Darien Country Club. I loved it when Amy and I just signed our name to order food at these clubs. We were royalty! Something so simple but so meaningful to someone like me growing up as the daughter of a mechanic who was supporting a family of 5.
Mr. Annunziato never forgot his roots and never acted like he was better than anyone. I loved to visit his mom along with Amy on Locust Avenue.
A true New Canaanite and such a giver. Just think about all of the time he spent volunteering for all of the important services of New Canaan. He gave more than any of us ever would and did it all because he loved his town.
Thank you Mr. Annunziato for opening up your home to me and giving me the opportunity to experience the finer things and life and never treating me like I didn’t belong. I know you are smiling because you’re reunited with your beautiful wife. R.I.P.
Love, Karen Tiani Hussey