Leo Porretti

MARLBOROUGH – Mr. Leo Porretti, of Marlborough, formerly of Buzzards Bay, West Newton, Bedford, and Waltham, died Sunday, December 10, 2006. He was 86 years old. He was married for 50 years to his beloved wife Isabelle M. (Sousa) Porretti who died in May 1995. Born in Berlin, New Hampshire, in 1920, Leo was the son of the late Michael Anthony “Tony” Porretti and Filomena (D’Orazio) Porretti, and was predeceased by his brother Domenic Porretti and his sister Louise (Porretti) Jordan. He grew up in Waltham and graduated from Waltham High School in 1938. He attended The Massachusetts State College (now The University of Massachusetts Amherst) until he enlisted in the military. He proudly served in the United States Air Force for 30 years, achieving the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He was a bombadier during World War II in the China-Burma-India Theater and ended his military career as Commander of the 901st Support Squadron, a military airlift group at L. G. Hanscom Field in Bedford, Massachusetts. After World War II, he owned and operated “Porretti’s” restaurant in Bedford. He raised his family in Newton and lived in Buzzards Bay for many years before moving to Marlborough in 2004 to be near his family. He was a building contractor and a real estate developer. Leo was passionate about politics, golf (he was a great fan of Tiger Woods), tennis, football, and food! He and his wife enjoyed spending winters in Florida. He will be dearly missed by his devoted brother Ted Porretti and his wife Mildred of Framingham; his daughters Kathleen M. Stetson and her husband Robert of Marlborough and Janet L. Clark and her husband Stephen of Bel Air, Maryland; his grandchildren Lee C. Stetson of Queens, New York, Alyssa K. Stetson of Worcester, and Carina A. Clark and Alexander S. Clark, both of Bel Air, Maryland; his cousin Doris (Porretti) Sanchez and her husband Frank of St. Petersburg, Florida; and many nieces and nephews. Leo and his family want to express their deepest respect and gratitude to Dr. Humaira Mahmud and RN Clare Godfrey for the care and compassion they gave Leo during the last difficult months of his life. They are truly angels on Earth. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Funeral Monday, December 18, at 9:30 a.m. from The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Route 20), Waltham, followed by a Funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. in St. Bernard’s Church, 1523 Washington Street (Route 16), West Newton. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Waltham. Visiting hours are Sunday, December 17, from 4 to 8 p.m.