Michael “Mike” Thomas Damato, 66, of Manchester and formerly Glastonbury, beloved companion of Joyce Holland, passed away peacefully at home with his family by his side on Wednesday (July 31, 2013) after a courageous battle with cancer. Born on December 31, 1946 in Hartford, he was the son of the late John T. and Minnie (McGhee) Damato and had lived in the area all his life. He proudly served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. Mike worked for the City of Hartford for 28 years, retiring in 2000. He was a member of the VFW Post 9929 in West Hartford and was very actively involved with the Church of the Assumption, Manchester. In addition to the love of his life, Joyce, with whom he shared his home, Mike will be dearly missed by his four sons, Dr. Eric Damato and his wife Amy of Newington, Dr. Gregory Damato and his wife Hillary of Central America, Dr. Nicholas Damato and his wife Mary of Marlborough and Michael Damato of Glastonbury; eight adored grandchildren with one more on the way, Kathryn, Joseph, Caleb, Elijah, Lola, Colin, Mason and Annabelle Damato; the mother of his children, Diane Marie (Sheaffer) Damato; three brothers, Gary R. Damato of Enfield, Richard J. Damato and John G. Damato, both of West Hartford; his sister, Sandra Lee Damato of Windsor; his stepfather, William Jobbette and several nieces and nephews, extended family members and numerous special friends.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday at 10 a.m. at the D’Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Blvd., Wethersfield. Burial with military honors will follow in Mt. St. Benedict Cemetery, Bloomfield. The family will receive relatives and friends TODAY from 4-7 p.m. at the funeral chapel. Donations in Mike’s memory may be made to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, National Processing Center, P.O. Box 96764, Washington, DC 20090-6764. For online expressions of sympathy to the family, please visit www.desopo.com.