Bruno L. Latici

1921-2011

Woodstock – Bruno L. Latici, died September 24, 20011 at Day Kimball Hospital after a short illness. He was born January 31, 1921 in Putnam, CT the son of Clementina and Albert (Umberto) Latici, Sr. He was a veteran of WWII, enlisting while a student in the School of Engineering at the University of Conn. He served as a B-17 pilot in the 8th Air Force in Framlingham, England. On his 26th mission, his plane, The Avenger, was shot down over Dusseldorf, Germany. With the plane in flames and loaded with bombs, he held the aircraft steady; bailing out only after all his crewmembers had safely escaped. He spent the remaining nine months of the war as a POW in Stalag Luft One in Barth on the Baltic, Germany. In April 1945 after the German’s deserted the camp ahead of the advancing Russian army, Bruno and three of his fellow prisoners fled on bicycles making their way to Allied lines and a Scottish regiment. Soon after, the Russians closed all the borders sending those who followed back to the camps to await repatriation. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and the POW Medal of Honor. After returning to the states, he married Gertrude Moynihan and they made their home in Boston while Bruno attended Northeastern University. In 1946, Bruno and Gertrude moved back to Connecticut where he worked as a manager for Wycoff Steel Company for 30 years. He then became an independent salesman working for various steel manufacturing companies until his retirement in 1988. In 1963, Bruno and Gertrude purchased their beloved cottage, “Tuckaway” on Nantucket Island, which they generously shared with their friends and family. After his retirement, they moved to the Island and remained there until 2009. On Nantucket, Bruno enjoyed many of the Island’s natural bounties, fishing, scalloping, clamming and making beach plum jam. He taught himself to weave intricate and exquisite Nantucket baskets, painstaking carving whales out of ebony to adorn the covers. He made many baskets for family, friends and charities. While on Nantucket, he was an avid member of the Nantucket Anglers Club and was a volunteer for the Hospital Thrift Shop. Bruno was charismatic, enthusiastic, curious and creative and had many diverse interests and hobbies. He was a voracious reader, gardener and beekeeper. He learned to restore furniture, sew, cane chairs and can tomatoes. His two greatest loves, however, were restoring old houses and antique cars including a 1969 MG and 1938 Ford truck. He was active in the Woodstock and Pomfret communities serving as a Boy Scout leader for many years. He was a member of the Woodstock Players, the Woodstock Theft Detecting Society and the Pontefract Boat club. In addition to his wife of 66 years he leaves his five children: Elena Latici of Bologna, Italy and her husband Alvin, Renald Latici of Woodstock, Steven Latici and his wife Laura of Gilmanton, NH, Jennifer Latici of Woodstock, Cristina Latici-McAvoy and her husband, Justin of NYC; his five grandchildren: Justin Latici and his wife Lisa of Golden, CO, Margot Latici of San Diego, CA, Finn, Blaise and Millicent Latici-McAvoy of NYC. He is also survived by his brother Donald and his wife Theresa of Montvale, NJ and many nieces and nephews. He leaves his good friend Grover Swearingen of South Union Ohio, the last remaining crew member of his B-17. Two brothers, Renald Latici and Albert Latici, Jr, predeceased him. A memorial mass will be held on October 8, 2011, 11:00 A.M. at Most Holy Trinity Church in Pomfret, CT followed by burial service with Military Honors at Elmvale Cemetery, Woodstock, CT. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in his name to the Nantucket Athaneum Library, PO Box 808 Nantucket MA 02554 or Hospice and Palliative Care of NECT, c/o Day Kimball Hospital Development Office, PO Box 632, Putnam, CT 06260. Arrangements are entrusted to the Gilman Funeral Home. For Memorial Guestbook visit www.GilmanAndValade.com

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