Rocky Hill Obituary: Dr. Eugene Rotatori, 84

Eugene S. Rotatori, M.D., 84, of Rocky Hill, died peacefully in the comfort of his home, on Wednesday, March 8, 2017 in the presence of his loving family.

Born in South Bellingham, MA, on July 11, 1932 to Eugenio and Ida (Bacolini) Rotatori, he was raised in Woonsocket, R.I. Gene was a Connecticut resident since 1960, living in West Hartford until 2008 and Rocky Hill thereafter. Gene graduated from Providence College (magna cum laude) in 1954 and from Georgetown University School of Medicine in 1958. He did his postgraduate training at St. Vincent Hospital in Worcester, MA and St. Francis Hospital in Hartford.

He practiced internal medicine in the Hartford area from 1962 to 1986, rising to senior attending physician at St. Francis Hospital. In 1986 he assumed a position in medical underwriting at The Travelers Insurance Company. In 1991 he became Medical Director for the Knights of Columbus insurance program, holding that position until his retirement in November 2002. While working with the Knights, Gene was privileged to meet Saint Theresa of Calcutta and Saint John Paul II, among other dignitaries. He received the Papal Honor of the Knights of St. Gregory in March 2000.

Board certified in both internal medicine and insurance medicine, Gene was a member of the Hartford County Medical Society (serving as president in 1990), Hartford County Medical Association, and American Academy of Insurance Medicine. He was also a member of the Hartford Chapter of UNICO, a Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus, St. Peter Claver Council 10817, and a charter member of St. John Paul II Assembly 3000 of the Knights of Columbus. He was a founding member of St. Peter Claver Church in West Harford and for the past nine years, was a member of St. James Church, Rocky Hill.

He leaves his wife, Janet, whom he married in February 2009; his daughter Kathryn Corjulo of Gay Head, MA; his daughter Susan McAuliffe and her husband Robert of Falls Church, VA; and his son William and his wife Patricia of Wethersfield. He also leaves eight grandchildren, Mark and Clara Corjulo; Erik Harris and his wife Carrie; Alexander, Emily and Olivia McAuliffe; and Nicholas and Annmarie Rotatori. Gene also leaves two stepchildren, Stephan Caramma and his wife Sherry, and Rebecca Crocker and her husband Christopher, as well as five stepgrandchildren, Meghan and Corey Pelletier, Daniel Ackel, and Devin and Sarah Caramma, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, and many nieces and nephews.

Besides his parents, Gene was predeceased by his brother Leandro, who was killed during World War II, his sister Elsa, his grandson Michael, and his first wife Rosalie, whom he married in June 1958.

His funeral will begin on Monday, March 13th, at 8:45 a.m. at the Newington Memorial Funeral Home, 20 Bonair Ave., Newington followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. at St. Peter Claver Church, 47 Pleasant St. in West Hartford. He will be laid to rest in Mt. St. Benedict Cemetery, Bloomfield. Relatives and friends are invited to call on Sunday, from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at Newington Memorial.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 825 Brook St., I-91 Tech Center, Rocky Hill, CT 06067 or ALS Association, CT Chapter, 4 Oxford Rd., Unit E4, Milford, CT 06460.

To share a memory with his family, please visit us at www.newingtonmemorial.com.