Anthony Gaeta, plumber, veteran

Anthony J. Gaeta Jr. of Ridgefield, a plumber who had lived here all his life and had served in the Pacific during World War II, died on Tuesday afternoon, May 25, 2004, at Danbury Hospital. He was 89 years old, husband of the late Eleanor Callutti Gaeta.
Mr. Gaeta was born in a house on Bailey Avenue on March 23, 1915, a son of Antonio and Filomena Gallucci Gaeta. He attended local schools and graduated from Ridgefield High School.
During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army in New Guinea, where he was a telephone lineman.
Mr. Gaeta was a retired plumber and had worked for many years with the former Gaeta Plumbing & Heating Companies.
“He was very dedicated to his family and to his home,” said his son, Assistant Fire Chief Nicholas “Nick” Gaeta. An avid gardener, he maintained both vegetable and flower gardens as well as fruit trees.
Mr. Gaeta was also widely known for helping others. “He was a very kind person,” his son said. “He would spend hours helping people.” For instance, friends would often call with plumbing problems and he’d provide repairs without charge. Frequently, he would repair fixtures rather than replace them to save people money.
“He never got rich, but he had a lot of friends,” Chief Gaeta said.
Mr. Gaeta was one of the oldest members of the Italian American Mutual Aid Society. “The Italian Club was really his escape,” his son said.
He was also a member of St. Mary’s Church.
Mr. Gaeta was one of the few male members of his family who was not a Ridgefield fireman. His father, his son Nick, his grandson Anthony, and his brothers have all been volunteer firemen here.
Eleanor Gaeta died in 1998. They had been married for 56 years. He was also predeceased by brothers Dominic and James Gaeta, both of Ridgefield, and a sister, Rose Franceschini.
Besides his son Nick, Mr. Gaeta is survived by another son, Andrew Gaeta of Lothian, Md.; a daughter, Elaine Taylor of Bristol; a brother, Albert Gaeta of Boynton Beach, Fla.; a sister, Lucy Townsend of Milford; five grandchildren, Michele Gaeta of Norwalk (who will be married Saturday), Melissa Ann Gaeta of Ridgefield, Lt. Anthony Nicholas Jr., Sean Taylor of Bristol, and Christine Taylor of Bristol; a stepsister-in-law, Helen Gecinceis of Georgetown; and several nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday at 10:15 a.m. in St. Mary’s Church.
Burial will take place in St. Mary’s Cemetery at the convenience of the family.
Friends will be received in the Kane Funeral Home, 25 Catoonah Street, on Thursday from 5 to 8.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the Visiting Nurse Association, 90 East Ridge or to the Ridgefield Fire Department Ambulance Fund, 6 Catoonah Street, both of Ridgefield 06877, would be appreciated.