Louis A. Guzzetti, Jr., age 87, of New Canaan, Connecticut, passed away peacefully on July 14, 2026 after living with vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease for several years. His wife Joan and other family members were by his side.
Louis A. Guzzetti, Jr.
Born on March 25, 1939 in Yonkers, New York, Lou was the youngest of Louis and Aurora’s four children. Growing up in a hard-working Italian immigrant family instilled in him a strong work ethic and the core values that became key to his future success and leadership style. At Eastchester High School, he played the trumpet and excelled in football and basketball. He was the first of his family to attend college, graduating from Williams College (‘61) and Harvard Law School (‘64).
Lou began his career at a Wall Street law firm before moving to the law department of Celanese Corporation. In 1973, he became Vice President & General Counsel of General Host Corporation, a conglomerate of 17 diverse businesses, in Stamford, CT. Within a few years, he assumed responsibility for all corporate staff functions and became the driving force in a major restructuring of the company.
In 1983 Lou joined the international food conglomerate United Brands as Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer and soon became President & CEO of its Chiquita business. Trips to the tropics, with armed-guard protection, negotiations with General Manuel Noriega in Panama, and even a commemorative plaque which still stands in Costa Rica, all became part of family lore.
In 1986 he became CEO of a small public company, controlled by a private equity firm with an aggressive growth strategy. Lou led the hostile takeover and restructuring of a much larger company culminating with the formation of EnviroSource Inc. that focused on metals recycling and hazardous waste disposal.
Beginning in 2000, Lou commuted weekly to Troy, OH where he presided over a Chapter XI bankruptcy restructuring and change of ownership of Spinnaker Coating, LLC, a pressure sensitive label manufacturer. Applying the concept from his team sports days that each and every member of the team had a vital role to play, he tasked employees from all areas of operations and all levels of the company to establish a set of shared principles and a commitment to providing superb customer service. With this coherent message all employees felt valued and important. This philosophy was made real via the establishment of an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). When the company was re-sold many years later, the proceeds benefited all employees. Today, both Spinnaker and Lou’s philosophy live on, as the company is still recognized as the premier customer service organization in the label stock manufacturing industry.
Lou’s passion for sports led to his becoming a long suffering New York Jets fan, never wavering despite the inevitable heartbreak of their typical performance. Throughout his life, Lou maintained friendships from grade school and each of the subsequent chapters in his life. He was sought out as a mentor by family, friends, and colleagues, a role he cherished. One of his most important involvements was with his alma mater, Williams College. As an alumnus, he served in many roles, among others Trustee, Class Agent, and head of Fund Raising for milestone Class Reunions. In the latter capacity, he again applied the same team concepts from his sports days which resulted in record setting campaign proceeds. At his 50th Reunion, he was honored with the college’s Rogerson Cup, an annual award to a distinguished alumnus for exemplary service.
Another important involvement was with CancerCare, a national non-profit providing free professional support services to people affected with cancer. He first helped to establish and lead a new Connecticut branch, then transitioned to New York, where he served as Board president.
Married for forty-six years, Lou and Joan met on a family ski trip to Okemo. Together they enjoyed life in New York City for two and a half years before moving to New Canaan in 1979. On weekends, spurred on by Pavarotti arias, Lou relaxed by preparing traditional Italian-American dishes, specifically a red sauce handed down from his mother. Vacations to Martha’s Vineyard, the Caribbean, Quebec, national parks, and visiting cousins in Italy, are special family memories.
Lou is survived by Joan (Livingston), their children Elizabeth and Michael, his first wife Lisa Penick, their children Cristina, Matthew (Carmen), and Andrew (Lori) and grandchildren Joseph, Michaela, and Nicholas, and his sister Loretta Halperin (Andrew). He was predeceased by his sisters Vera and Diana.
As Lou’s world became smaller, music continued to lift his spirits. Being outdoors and feeling the breeze while watching birds and drifting clouds was a source of joy. Lou’s big smile charmed people until his last days.
A Celebration of Lou Guzzetti’s Life will be held Sunday, September 13, at 12 noon at The Roger Sherman Inn, 195 Oenoke Ridge, New Canaan, CT 06840.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Joan and Lou Guzzetti Tutoring Fund, a student enrichment program they have long supported. https://www.horizonskids.org/support/donate/ Leave comment to direct the donation to The Joan and Lou Guzzetti Tutoring Fund.