Adolph “Dolph” R. Fusco, age 85, passed away at his home in Simsbury on Monday, August 12, 2019. He was born in Norristown, PA on April 15, 1934. He was one of two sons born to loving parents Adolph and Marie (Branca) Fusco, both deceased. His younger brother, Leonard, had also predeceased him. Dolph and Leonard were very close.
Dolph attended Norristown (PA) High School and Drexel Institute of Technology where he graduated with majors in business and economics. Ongoing graduate courses were interrupted by job relocations.
Dolph was married to his teenage love, Rosemary V. Molnar Fusco for 62 years, until his death. They met in 1952 on an Army bus. They were going to Fort Dix, NJ in order to entertain the troops returning from the Korean War. They were members of a Horn and Hardart teenage entertainment group. Dolph played ukulele, and Rosemary sang popular ballads. They were married in Swedesburg, PA in 1957 and were sweethearts to the end.
Dolph had a varied career as a Corporate Financial Controller primarily for Playtex and ITT Corporations. He was either assigned to corporate headquarters to operate as a captive consultant to divisions and subsidiaries, or he was appointed to a chief financial position at one of them. This resulted in seven chief financial positions. Because of assignments, Dolph moved the family from Norristown, PA to Dover, DE to Puerto Rico and to Mexico City, Mexico where they remained for three exciting years. His work finally resulted in relocations to New York City, and, to Hartford, CT. He also traveled on business within North and South America and Africa. The family enjoyed every location and country.
Dolph and family fell in love with the town of Simsbury, CT in 1977, and the family put down permanent roots. He came out of retirement twice, once to build a budgeting/forecasting system for ADVO, Inc. and once to return profitability to a Dutch plumbing company doing business in New England. During retirement, he became a stockbroker and financial planner, albeit on a small scale.
Dolph chose to join the US Army Artillery Reserves rather than be drafted. He served honorably for six years, 1957 to 1963, during an unsettling time when service activation and deployment were always probabilities.
By far, the main hobby/pastime of the Fuscos had been their love of bicycling. They spent thousands of miles enjoying this activity when riding with family, friends and groups. Dolph and Rosemary also enjoyed canoeing and kayaking.
Dolph spent 19 years as a founding director of The Farmington Valley Trails Council. Those were years of some frustration when the idea of a park-like trail network was in its infancy. But, with founder Preston Reed at the helm, the Trails Council managed to help bring the concept to fruition in the Farmington Valley.
Dolph, along with Rosemary, enjoyed social activities as members in the Farmington Valley Ski Touring Club where they made many friends. Club outings included cross country skiing, hiking, biking, partying and occasional trips with like-minded friends. He and Rosemary served the club as president and as treasurer.
Knowing that his 80-year-old aunt, Marguerite (Illiam) Branca was suffering from Alzheimer’s, he invited her from Michigan to CT so that he could help her. Thus began 13 years of conducting her business and being her friend.
He spent over twenty years as a volunteer board member of his planned community association of 125 homeowners. He emphasized business aspects to help his community and served as president and treasurer.
Dolph enjoyed other hobbies besides biking. Aside from his constant tinkering, he made many useful pieces of furniture in his woodworking shop. He painted watercolors scenes for a period. Ultimately, he discovered digital art photography and computer image enhancement. He became a member of the Simsbury Camera Club to hone his skill.
He has volunteered as a fund raiser for the expansion of the Simsbury Library, also as a treasurer of the Friends of the Simsbury Library during the period just before the latest expansion of the building. With a strong interest in politics and world affairs, he participated for years as part of a library discussion group called Great Decisions. He supported many Simsbury organizations.
Dolph had a strong interest in researching the Shroud of Turin and how science could not explain the exquisite image and how it is linked to the Sudarium of Oviedo.
In addition to his wife Rosemary, Dolph is survived by his three loving children, Aleta Fusco (married to son-in-law Paul Gapch), Pamela Emmons (married to son-in-law Steve Emmons) and Christopher Fusco (married to daughter-in-law Beth Perry). He leaves two gentlemanly grandsons, Benjamin Fusco and Sam Fusco, who are both college students. He leaves Beth’s children, Daniel and Lydia, whom he loved as his own grandchildren.
Friends may call at the Vincent Funeral Home, 880 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury, Sunday, August 18th from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday, August 19th, 11:00 AM at St. Catherine of Siena Church, 265 Stratton Brook Road, West Simsbury. Inurnment with military honors will follow in Simsbury Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to ALS Association, CT Chapter, 4 Oxford Road, Unit E4, Milford, CT 06460 or Hospital for Special Care, 2150 Corbin Avenue, New Britain, CT 06053. Please visit Dolph’s “Book of Memories” at www.vincentfuneralhome.com for online condolences.