George J. Amato, Jr.

George J. Amato, Jr. passed away peacefully on October 7, 2024 as a result of pancreatic cancer. He was ninety-one years of age. George is survived by his wife of seventy years Marie Amato, his brother Gerald, his three children and their spouses Michael D. Amato and Elizabeth B. Amato, George and Amanda Amato and Dawn and Thomas Astram, his six grandchildren and their spouses Mary and David Troiano, Grace and Will Delmore, Michael J. Amato, Catherine M. Amato and Jack Mische (fiancé), Thomas Astram and Julia Astram, and his four great-grandchildren Elena and Desmond Troiano and Blair and Charlotte Delmore. He was predeceased by his parents George and Marian Amato and his brother Robert.

George was born in West Haven, Connecticut on February 26, 1933. He grew up in West Haven and graduated from West Haven High School before joining the United States Marine Corps, bravely serving his country in the Korean War from 1951 to 1954. After marrying the love of his life Marie Rubino also of West Haven, Connecticut, George and Marie moved to Miami, Florida where George attended and graduated from the University of Miami. While in Miami George also worked as a staff artist at an advertising agency in Miami Beach. He began his art education career as a teacher in Greenwich, New York in 1958 before moving his family back to Connecticut in 1960. George was an inspiring educator who taught at Amity Regional Junior High School for thirty-two years and was the school system’s Chairman of the Practical and Fine Arts Department. In addition to fine art, George was well known for teaching theater arts and directing summer theater workshops where he inspired many students to pursue professional careers in theater, film and television.

George was an exceptional and accomplished professional artist and had an illustrious career. He shared a studio in New Haven with fellow artists, Howard Fussiner and Pat Jensen. In 1965, his art was presented alongside works by Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein in the “Anti-Sensitivity Art Show”. The same year his work was again exhibited with Andy Warhol, Jasper Johns, Claes Oldenburg and Robert Rauschenberg in “Pomp & Circumstance”, New York’s longest running Pop-Art show at the Four Seasons. George’s art was highlighted twice on the NBC Tonight Show and one of his more famous works “Today’s Cinderella” was reproduced in Glamour Magazine. Marie was his muse and she is the most common subject in George’s enormous body of work. He opened and operated a gallery in Milford Center, providing opportunities for young people in art.
George and Marie and their three children moved to their forever home in the Morningside area of Milford Connecticut in 1965. He loved his expansive views of Long Island Sound where he found new inspiration for his art He also was deeply involved in his community where he served as President of the Morningside Association and served as an Alderman for the City of Milford from 1971 until 1983 serving a time as Chair of the Board of Alderman. He also was appointed as a State Sheriff and Marshal in 1971 and held that position until 2022. George also served as a member and Chairman of the Milford Golf Commission, a position he held until his passing this week. He also was a founder of the Milford Fine Arts Council and had a successful and popular retrospective show at the Milford Center for the Arts in 2017.

George was an endlessly optimistic person who’s joy and love of life brightened the lives of his family, friends and neighbors. His creativity and sense of beauty was obvious to all through his artwork and many activities. He also was deeply respected as an inspiring educator and communicator who brought incredible energy and enthusiasm to assist so many people over the course of his amazing life. But most of all George loved and cared for his family in such a meaningful, profound and spiritual way. The entire family feels blessed by his love as he continues to inspire us and guide us by the examples he set.

George’s family would like to thank Dr. Jill Lacy for guiding him through the challenges of his disease and the care provided by Connecticut Hospice at the end of his life.
Friends and family may call on October 17th, 2024, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the CODY-WHITE FUNERAL HOME, 107 Broad St, Milford CT 06460. There will be a Mass of Christian burial on Friday October 18th, 2024, at 11:00 AM at St. Mary’s Church with Military Honors, 70 Gulf St, Milford CT 06460. GUESTS SHOULD COME DIRECTLY TO ST. MARY CHURCH. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Yale Smilow Cancer Hospital online at https://www.yalecancercenter.org/gifts/

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