Dante Brunetti, former Realtor here

Dante Robert Brunetti of Vero Beach, Fla., a Ridgefield native who operated clothing, real estate and insurance businesses here, died Wednesday, Sept. 26, at VNA Hospice House in Vero Beach after an extended illness. He was 77 years old and the husband of Marian Brunetti.
Mr. Brunetti was born April 15, 1924 in Ridgefield and grew up on Prospect Street in a neighborhood inhabited by many Italian and Irish families. He once counted 49 boys and girls, from age one to 20, who lived on Prospect Street when he was a child.
“It was a happy, bustling environment,” he said.
Mr. Brunetti attended Ridgefield schools, graduating from Ridgefield High School in 1942. He was one of the stars of the high school’s baseball team that won the county championship two years in a row, and he pitched and won the championship game in June 1942.
“He was extremely fast — and extremely wild,” said his former business partner, Jack Baldaserini. “Everyone was scared of him.”
After graduation, he served in the United States Army during World War II.
In the 1950s and early 1960s, Mr. Brunetti operated Dante’s, a men’s clothing store on the east side of Main Street.
He also worked for the real estate firm of Keeler and Durant, had his own firm called Village Realty in the early 1970s, and was a founder with Mr. Baldaserini of Homestead Reality & Insurance in 1975.
He was very active in the Ridgefield Board of Realtors, especially in its early years, and was president in 1970. “He was very professional,” said Mr. Baldaserini. “He served on every kind of professional standards committee the board had.”
He was considered an expert in Ridgefield real estate. “Whenever a Realtor had a question, Dante is the one they would go to,” said Madeline Fitzgerald Contegni, who worked with Mr. Brunetti.
In 1983, Homestead’s real estate and insurance businesses were separated, and Mr. Brunetti took over the insurance side, continuing until his retirement around 1990.
He then moved to Florida and had lived in Vero Beach for the past 10 years.
Mr. Brunetti was one of the founders of the Kiwanis Club in 1962. He belonged to St. Mary’s Church here and St. Helen Catholic Church, Vero Beach.
He enjoyed golf and among his regular partners were Albert Gaeta, Mario Scala and Bob Kane.
Besides his wife of 47 years, he is survived by one brother, Joseph Brunetti of Danbury. His sister, Lea Brunetti Rowland, died before him.
A Memorial Mass will be celebrated Thursday, Oct. 4, at 10 a.m. at St. Helen Catholic Church.
A memorial service in Ridgefield will be scheduled at a future date.
Memorial contributions may be made to VNA Hospice of Indian River County, 1111 36th Street, Vero Beach, FL 32960.
Arrangements are under the direction of Cox-Gifford Funeral Home, Vero Beach.