Gennaro DeLucia

Gennaro (Jerry) DeLucia Jr., 87, who owned and operated Creative Studios of Hamden, a photography business for 35 years, died Thursday, Aug. 29, after a courageous battle with cancer. He lived on Homewood Avenue in North Haven. Mr. DeLucia was born in New Haven on March 16, 1926, graduated from Hamden High School in 1944 and served in the U.S. Navy in World War II from 1944 to 1946. Before opening Creative Studio he worked at Jay Storm Studios in New Haven. Mr. DeLucia earned the distinction as a certified professional photographer by the Professional Photographers of America, Inc. He was known for his kindness, soft-spoken wit, and dedication to his family. He and his wife of 61 years, the late Gloria Mantovani DeLucia, raised their children in Hamden, opened their home to Sunday pasta dinners and pool parties with friends. The two owned and managed the former Peter Manor Apartments. He was generous and spent much of his time helping others. He was past president and member of the Unitas Club, the Lions Club and the Jaycees. He received numerous awards for his civic service; among them a 2004 Unitas award for distinguished service to his lifelong commitment to the community and a 2010 award for his 55 years community service work with the Lions Club of Hamden. He loved golf and relished his early morning tee times with his golfing buddies at the Laurel View Country Club in Hamden. He was a parishioner of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Hamden. Mr. DeLucia leaves his children and their families: Susan and Stephen Judge of Branford, Lynne DeLucia and Jack Millea of New Haven and Jerry and Karen DeLucia of Hamden. He is survived by his grandchildren: Tracey Fox and her husband, Adam of North Haven; Graig Judge and his wife, Sarah of Killingworth; Colleen Ventimilia of Studio City, California; Jesse DeLucia of Wallingford, Kyle DeLucia and Jillian DeLucia of Hamden. He also leaves his great-grandchildren, Peyton Marie, Avery, Anthony, Christian and Kyle Fox, of North Haven; Fiona Judge of Killingworth and Jack and Leo Ventimilia of Studio, City, Califoria and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Gennaro and Julia DeLucia of Hamden and 11 brothers and sisters: Anthony, Joseph, John, and Vincent DeLucia, Mary Bova, Nellie DiIuglio, Anna Namm, Fannie Trotta, Vera Parisi, Tina Gottlieb, Ester Parisi, A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 10:30 a.m. Saturday. Relatives and friends may call at the Sisk Brothers Funeral Home, 3105 Whitney Ave., Hamden from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Burial will be in Centerville Cemetery, Hamden. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Connecticut Hospice, Inc., 100 Double Beach Road, Branford, CT. 06405 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. www.siskbrothers.com

Gennaro DeLucia

March 16, 1926 - August 29, 2013