Salvatore "Nick" Zoccoli

Salvatore Nicholas Zoccoli, 84, passed away on May 28, 2022, after a lengthy illness. Born in a small town in the hills of Santa Caterina, prov of CZ, Italy on January 1, 1938, he was best known as “Nick” to family, friends, and associates. Survivors include his devoted wife Louise, sons Stephen (wife Mila), Nick (wife Karen), and daughter Maria Buchta (husband Michael), as well as six grandchildren who loved their “Papa” – Nicholas, Victoria, Jonathan, Michael, Jimmy, and Anastasia. He is also survived by his sister Assunta Pisani and brothers Antonio and Monsignor Vincenzo, as well as predeceased by siblings Luigi, Maria Concetta, Giuseppe, Concetta Vittoria Miglio, Giuseppina Ferraro, and Maria Caterina and several nieces and nephews.

He arrived in America at the age of 18 where he quickly learned to speak and read English; by the age of 21, he was an accomplished carpenter and cabinet maker, working for CCSU and himself. He designed and built many spaces and furnishings on the college campus. Some of his other projects included the remodeling of the Mark Twain House, building a Grumman Aircraft wood model for the Lunar Module that eventually landed on the moon, and crafting a full-scale stainless-steel model of the Amtrak train in 1965. In addition, Nick was a veteran of the US Army having served in Dachau, Germany. In his free time, he loved gardening, cooking, playing cards, and always enjoyed a good round of golf. After retirement from the State of CT, he enjoyed traveling and relaxing with his true love Louise, while also fitting in leisure time with his children, grandchildren, and friends. Nick and Louise relocated to Ocala, Florida in 2000 where they were very active in their church and community, as Eucharistic Ministers and volunteering for Meals on Wheels and at a local hospital.

Calling hours are from 4-7pm at Erickson-Hansen Funeral Home of Berlin, 111 Chamberlain Highway, on Friday, June 10th. A funeral mass celebrated by lifelong friend Reverend David Zercie will be held at 10am on Saturday, June 11th at St. Dominic’s Church where Nick had contributed his time and talent to the building committee and liturgical furnishings, including the altar. Burial will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery immediately following funeral services. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

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