Obituary of Donald A. Palazzo

Donald A. Palazzo, age 94, of Stratford, passed away peacefully on Friday, April 3, 2026 at Bridgeport Hospital surrounded by his loving family. He was the beloved husband of 68 years to the late Beverly (Burnett) Palazzo. Born in Bridgeport on July 25, 1931, he was a son of the late Frank and Loretta (Murphy) Palazzo and was a lifelong Stratford Resident.  

Donald joined the United States Air Force and proudly served his country during the Korean War. After being honorably discharged he began his career at Sikorsky Aircraft where he dedicated over 35 years retiring as foreman in 1993. Don was a fixture in Stratford, when he wasn’t at Sikorsky, he was a bartender at the Ye Olde Restaurants and the Stonybrook in Stratford and spent countless hours volunteering around the city. He devoted his time to volunteer with the Stratford Civitan Club where he could be seen collecting and refilling candy boxes around town and manning the booth annually at Stratford Day. Other volunteer efforts included the Ella Grasso Center Auxiliary group, the Barnum Festival, where he received The Volunteer of The Year Award in 1995, and Swim Across the Sound. He was also a Men’s Club member at the Baldwin Center in Stratford where he enjoyed playing pinochle and was one of the founders of the Men’s bocce club. 

Along with Beverly, he cherished his time outdoors including trips to Aruba, Maine and New York Yankees Spring Training. A true sports fan, he was one of the original members of the Sound Tigers Booster Club and season ticket holder, and an avid and loyal fan of the New York Yankees and New York Rangers. 

Don was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather and will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

Survivors include two daughters, Deborah Madar and her husband David and Donna McDaniel and her husband Allan, a brother Kenneth Palazzo, two grandsons, Michael Madar and his wife Elizabeth and Alex Marcus as well as two cherished great grandchildren, Katie and Jack Madar. He was predeceased by his daughter, Cheryl Palazzo.

All are invited to meet directly in St. James Church, 2070 Main St., Stratford on Saturday, April 11, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. for a Mass of Christian Burial.  Interment with Full Military Honors will follow in Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Friends may greet the family on Friday from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at The Abriola Parkview Funeral Home, 419 White Plains Road, Trumbull.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made Special Olympics Connecticut 2666 State Street, Suite 1 Hamden, CT 06517 or at www.soct.org. To leave an online condolence, please visit us at www.abriola.com