Pizza Slice Special to Benefit Children of Late Somers Man

SOMERS, CT — After 23 years with the Connecticut Department of Corrections, Somers resident Patrick Maia retired not long ago in order to begin a new career in the construction industry. A young man of 46, the change would enable him to enjoy his passions for sports, fishing, and mainly, for his two teenage children.

Unfortunately, those plans were destroyed on March 5, when Maia died unexpectedly as a result of a heart attack, leaving Mikayla and Troy without their dad, and countless people without a genuine friend filled with "warmth and love of life," as written in his obituary. One of those true friends is hoping to aid Maia's children in a special way next week.

Joe Zucco, owner of the newly-opened Dominic's On the Ave on Route 190 in the Hazardville section of Enfield, will be preparing a special pizza slice next Monday through Saturday, March 16-21. Containing pepperoni, onions and peppers, the generously-sized portion will be called "the Maia Slice," and proceeds from all sales of the special $5 slice will be donated to aid Maia's children.

"His kids were his life," said Zucco, adding Maia was instrumental in keeping another business he owns afloat during a medical crisis. "Two years ago I was hospitalized for five months and couldn't walk, and Pat ran my business for me. We want to give back to help his family."

Zucco created the benefit with considerable input from Maia's brother, Mark, as well as many of his fellow co-workers from the Osborn, Northern and Willard-Cybulski correctional facilities in Somers and Enfield.

The special slices will be available during Dominic's regular business hours: Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and new hours on Fridays and Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.