Benjamin A. Vitti, “Ben”, beloved husband, father, step-father, and grandfather, cherished uncle, brother, and friend, 75, of Newington passed away peacefully on August 7, 2014 in Hartford.
Ben was born in Hartford son of the late Joseph and Antoinette (D'Aprile) Vitti on March 31,1939. He was the oldest of six brothers; Victor, Anthony, Francis, Joseph, and Mario with whom he shared a strong bond while growing up in West Hartford. Ben was an electrical contractor, he was the founder and active owner of AA Electrical Service, Inc., West Hartford for many years. Ben loved his family, his wife, children, brothers, in-laws, nieces, nephews, stepchildren and grandchildren. His grandchildren always knew “Papa Ben”to be Grammy’s sidekick. Where there was one, there was the other. Ben loved the arts, music, dancing, travelling, boating, fishing, and, most of all, spending quality time with friends and family.
Ben is survived by “the love of his life,” his adoring wife, Laura Dukes Vitti of Newington; his daughter, Sharon Vitti of Newton, MA, and her husband, Steve Cadrain, and their children Estelle, Charlotte, and Bryce; his son, Christopher Vitti of Granby and his wife, Eileen (Kuhn), and their children Christian and Gabrielle; his step-daughter, Laura Shannahan Montgomery of Newington, and her husband, Mike, and their children, Kevin and Julia; his step-son, Christopher Shannahan of Rocky Hill, and his wife, Christina, and their children, Riley and Regan; his step-son, Michael John Shannahan, of West Hartford, and his partner, Shawn Fongemie, and their children, Ingela and Brenna; his step-daughter, Nancy Shannahan Williams of Newington, and her husband, James, and their children, Gavin and Jack; his daughter-in-law, AnnMari (Giarratano) Shannahan of New York, New York; his former wife, Pam Amazeen of West Hartford and her husband, Frank; his brother, Joseph Vitti of Chicago, IL, and his wife, Susan; his brother, Mario Vitti, of East Lyme; his sister-in-law, Sandra Vitti of Farmington; his sister-in-law, Frances Vitti of East Granby; and, many loving nieces, nephews, and extended family members. Besides his parents, Ben was predeceased by his brothers, Victor, Anthony and Francis; his son, Michael Vitti and his stepson, Regis Thomas Shannahan. The family will be celebrating Ben’s life with calling hours at the Sheehan Hilborn Breen Funeral Home, 1084 New Britain Ave., West Hartford, TODAY,Friday, (August 8), from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Friends and family are also invited to Ben’s Mass of Christian Burial, which will be held at the Church of the Holy Spirit in Newington on Saturday, (August 9), at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow at West Meadow Cemetery in Newington. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Palliative Care Unit, Hartford Hospital Fund Development, 80 Seymour Street, Hartford, CT 06106.