Middletown Community Rallies Around Family Of Popular Podcast Host After Sudden Death

Salvatore "Peezy" Pugliares, 41, died Sept. 5, leaving behind his wife, two young sons and a community he entertained.

By Chris Dehnel, Patch Staff

Sep 10, 2026 12:59 PM EDT

MIDDLETOWN, CT — The Middletown community is rallying around the family of Salvatore "Peezy" Pugliares, a popular podcast host who died suddenly Saturday at age 41.

Pugliares, of Middletown, died Saturday morning, Sept. 5, 2026, according to his obituary from Biega Funeral Home.

Pugliares was a devoted husband to his wife, Jessica, and father of two sons, Lorenzo and Nico. His family was described in his obituary as the greatest love of his life.

He spent more than 20 years working in the IT department at Jarvis Corporation. Over the past year, however, Pugliares pursued his passion for entertainment, music and connecting with others.

More than seven years ago, he began as a hobby podcast called "2BeBlunt" and it grew into a community where people could speak freely, share knowledge, make friends and laugh together, according to his obituary.

Pugliares later teamed with Jesse as co-host, and the two worked to expand the show and build a lasting legacy.

A GoFundMe campaign launched in Pugliares' memory is raising money for Jessica and their two children as the family copes with his death.

The campaign describes Pugliares as a major part of the community who built lasting relationships and had a talent for making people smile. His entertainment work included live radio and music, professional wrestling, hosting and live interviews.

As the host of "2 Be Blunt" and "Barely Awake Radio," the the programs going live four times a week, according to the fundraiser.

"Above all else, Peezy loved his family deeply," the fundraiser states, describing Jessica and their sons as his "whole world."

The fundraiser is intended to help support Pugliares' wife and children and ease some of the financial burden as they move forward without him.

Community members can support the family by donating to or sharing the fundraiser. As of Thursday afternoon, a total of $47,521 had been raised on a goal of $65,000. Click here to make a donation.