Albert Alan Attardo

February 24, 2022

Albert Alan Attardo, son of the late Salvatore Attardo and Sarah Cartelli Attardo, died peacefully with his family on February 24, 2022, at age 92. He was born August 5, 1929. He lived in Bloomfield his entire life and graduated from Bloomfield High School. He was a builder and restorer of historic buildings, including the Harriet Beecher Stowe house, Mark Twain’s Church (Asylum Hill Congregational), the Sinclair Lewis house, the William Lewis House (1655) and many others, including the 1887 Edgemere Cottage in Watch Hill, Rhode Island. Many homes throughout Connecticut and Rhode Island carry the name Albert A. Attardo Builders. Al credits his father with instilling a work ethic in him and teaching him the trade that enabled his success. Al was an avid gardener and woodworker and enjoyed boating and clamming on Point Judith Salt Pond in Narragansett, RI. He was a founding member of the Bloomfield Fish and Game Club and member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4740. He sailed the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter barque Eagle during the 1976 Bicentennial Tall Ships Operation Sail Fleet. He joined the Navy Reserve in 1947, served on active duty and continued in the reserve until his retirement in 1980. Al retired as CWO-4, Commanding Officer of Naval Division 3-8M Fort Hale, New Haven. He served on the USS Shangri-La CV-38 and USS Antietam CV-36 during the Korean War and on over 20 ships during his tenure. In 1953, he was proud to be aboard the Antietam as part of the Naval Review at Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation. He was a recipient of over 12 medals, awards and letters of commendation. Al loved to travel with the Navy and also with his family to U.S. National Parks and later with Bev and their friends- visiting Europe, Southeast Asia, Asia, South America, Australia and the Caribbean. Al was predeceased by his wife of 60 years, Beverly (Brodrib) Attardo and leaves his daughters, Debra A. Symons of Mountain View, CA; Linda A. Paczkowski (Michael) of Concord, MA; and Pamela J. Attardo (Bill Tonidandel) of Helena, MT. Son Alan S. Attardo predeceased him in 1987. Al also leaves grandchildren Emma A. M. Symons, George S. Symons, Andrew S. A. Paczkowski, Michael C. A. Paczkowski, Alana A. Tonidandel and Aidan A. Tonidandel. Al’s greatest pleasure was time spent with his grandchildren. He is survived by his sister, Diana Darlington. Al was predeceased by three siblings: Corrado Attardo, Carmela Zito and Angela Saxton. Al leaves his friends at the former Riley Lumber Co., with whom he started many a day. He dedicates the stanzas of his favorite song, the sea shanty “Fiddler’s Green,” to all his friends and shipmates: “Wrap me up in me oilskins and jumper/No more on the docks I’ll be seen/Just tell me old shipmates, I’m taking a trip mates/And I’ll see you someday on Fiddler’s Green” (Fiddler’s Green is sailors’ Heaven.) Al loved his home on Great Island, Narragansett, RI, which he named Fiddler’s Green. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, March 25 at 11:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church in Bloomfield, followed by interment with full military honors at Mountain View Cemetery, Bloomfield. To Dad, “Fair winds and following seas.” Donations in Al’s memory may be made to: Salt Ponds Coalition, P.O. Box 875, Charlestown, RI 02813.