Obituary of Dante B. Fedeli

Dante B. Fedeli, a retired Stamford Police Sergeant and former fire commissioner, died peacefully Saturday, January 27, 2018 surrounded by his loving family. He was 88.

Mr. Fedeli was born in Stamford, CT on September 17, 1929 to the late Teresa and Frank Fedeli.

 He attended Stamford public schools and graduated from Stamford High School in 1947 where he played football. He also wrestled for the high school team.

Mr. Fedeli married his high school sweetheart, Theresa Larobina in 1950.

 He joined the Stamford Police force in 1954 and retired as a sergeant in 1977. While on the force he was a uniform shift supervisor and served in the Detective Bureau, Narcotics Undercover Squad and was chosen for the department’s first SWAT team in 1970.

 According to those who served under him he was a quiet but effective mentor and leader.

 “He was an honest cop and a very good supervisor in a department that had some corruption problems at that time, he was a straight arrow,” said former Deputy Police Chief John Perrotta, who served with Mr.Fedeli as young police officer in the 1970’s.

 Vito Colucci, author and former Stamford Police officer, also served under Mr...Fedeli, described him as “ an incorruptible cop and a terrific mentor,’’

  “Dante was a very quiet man, but he always led by example,’’ When he was our shift commander and there was a call for a barroom brawl or a robbery he was often first on the scene, Colucci said, “If one of us messed up, he would talk to us privately, tell us what he expected of us as police officers. It was very effective because we did not want to disappoint him.’’

   Mr. Fedeli negotiated the first Stamford Police Contract in 1965 and that document still bears his signature.

   He was the president of Stamford Police Association from 1965-1967 having previously served as vice-president and was a police pension trustee for 9 years.

Mr. Fedeli was a Fire Commissioner under former Mayor Stanley Esposito, serving as vice chairman and initiated several efficiency measures for that department.

  He was a long and dedicated parishioner at St. Clement of Rome Catholic Church and was a member of the lay advisory board and longtime parish trustee for 40 years.

 Mr. Fedeli and his wife Theresa, helped organize and run St. Clement’s church fairs, car raffles and tag sales. They were awarded the St. Augustine Medal of Service from the Diocese of Bridgeport.

He is survived by his loving wife of 68 years, Theresa Larobina Fedeli and three children: Frank M. Fedeli and his wife Mary Ann, Richard J. Fedeli and Mary Lisa Fedeli; grandchildren Richard Fedeli Jr and his wife Gretchen,  Joshua Fedeli and his wife Lauren, Kristin Fedeli and Michael Dante Fedeli; five great grandchildren: Andrew Howell,  Mia Fedeli, Kate Fedeli, Owen Fedeli and Sam Fedeli and many nieces and nephews .

 Mr. Fedeli was most happy when he was with his family for holidays,  birthdays and all important family celebrations, often commenting on how lucky he was to have such a large and loving family.

 He was predeceased by his parents, Frank and Theresa Fedeli, his brother, Clarence Fedeli and sister Yolanda Ponziani.

The Fedeli family would like to thank Dr. Robert Shapiro and his staff for his compassionate and thorough care and Mr. Fedeli’s caregivers, the Tarroza family.   

In Lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Clement of Rome Parish, 535 Fairfield Ave.  Stamford CT.  Visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 30, 2018 from 4-8 PM at Thomas M. Gallagher Funeral Home (next to the Knights of Columbus) 453 Shippan Ave, Stamford (203)-359-9999. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, January 31, 2018 at St Clement of Rome Church 535 Fairfield Avenue Stamford, CT.   Interment will follow at St John Cemetery, Darien, CT.  To send on-line condolences to the Fedeli family, please visit www.gallagherfuneralhome.com