Charles Peter Fazio, 92, of Winter Park, Florida, passed away peacefully on June 19, 2023. Born in Boston, he was the son of the late Charles and Petrina Fazio. He is predeceased by his sister Catherine Baglione, and his brothers, Phillip Fazio and Frank Fazio.
He was a graduate of Boston Technical High School, regarded as “the best school in Boston.” There, along with his nephew, Joseph Baglione, he organized a group of lifelong friends he named “The Big Five”.
Chuck was a generous man. One example (of many) is when a friend complimented the jacket he was wearing, Chuck took it off and gave it to him. He had great respect and concern for others, and lived to help others every day.
Sunday night dinners (and his weekly martini well into his 90’s) with family and friends were festive events for Chuck and all who attended. Music was a big part of his life, and when visitors arrived, they would hear songs from the big band era, such as Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, and others.
Family and friends were everything to Chuck. When his children were growing up in Hull, Massachusetts, he made sure that cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents were at the center of their lives. He had a way of making everyone feel welcome at the “beach house” on Nantasket Beach. Later, he continued that tradition when the family moved to Maryland and then Florida.
Chuck was always coming up with never-heard stories about himself or the family, such as making wine with his father, or his teenage jobs in a laundry and as a deliveryman for a bread bakery. He enjoyed the week-long fishing trip with his two sons that he took years ago. Often times Chuck’s stories were told to much laughter and mirth while playing friendly poker games with family and friends. He loved all things comedy (movies, television, books, etc.), and his laughter was infectious.
Chuck had many skills that allowed for a diverse and varied work history. He worked in the chemical engineering field for Dewey & Almy Chemical Company, where he obtained three patents from the US Patent Office. He worked as a construction engineer for hotels on Walt Disney World properties and elsewhere in Florida. He was a purchasing agent for both Sheraton and Helmsley Hotels. Later, Chuck founded Radmar Realty in Winter Park with his wife, Viola, where he worked as a real estate broker. (What could be better?!)
Chuck was a lifelong learner and was enthusiastically interested in all things concerning science and the universe. His favorite gifts were subscriptions to magazines such as Scientific American, Popular Mechanics, and Road & Track. He was the family’s personal new car purchasing agent for new cars; after all, he had test driven most of them, and knew many salespeople personally.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 69 years, Viola. He made a point of complimenting Viola and the meals she would cook for the family every night. After they met on Nantasket Beach, Chuck immediately announced to his family that he was going to marry Viola. Despite his wearing socks and shoes on the beach and having the nerve to “plop down uninvited” on her beach blanket, Viola did marry Chuck!!
He is also survived by four children Rena Williams (Joseph); Charles J. Fazio (Ricki); Vicki Emery (Stephen); and Peter Fazio (Terri). He has nine grandchildren and three great grandchildren. He enjoyed discussing philosophy and science with his children and grandchildren, and told them it keeps the mind young. And it did! One of his grandchildren dubbed him “the wise person” because he always had the answer to confounding questions
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In short, he was an amazing man who will be greatly missed, especially for his laughter and his insight on a multitude of topics.
Funeral Mass will be held on St. Saturday, July 15, 2023, at 10 a.m. at Margaret Mary Catholic Church Chapel, located at 526 Park Avenue North in Winter Park.
A reception follows in the Bethany-Cana Room at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church.