Obituary of Michael J. Gattuso

Michael Gattuso, 73, passed away peacefully at his home in Melbourne Beach, Florida on October 18, 2017 after a 14 year battle with cancer. Born in 1944 in Elizabeth, NJ, he was the son of the late Pasquale Gattuso and Rosaria (Pravata) Gattuso. Michael was a butcher by trade and spent his early years working at his family’s grocery store, Gattuso’s Food Market in Staten Island, NY. In 1963, he began working at Pathmark as a union butcher. In addition to his job at Pathmark, Michael hung wallpaper in his spare time in the evenings and on weekends. In 1964, he married Christine Loalbo. They raised their two children Andrew (Drew) and Lia in Linden, NJ and then Clark, NJ until their divorce in 1988. During those years, he was a loving, attentive father who enjoyed spending time with family. He was especially close with his brother-in-law, Dennis Loalbo. The two of them enjoyed working on household projects together usually involving lots of antics and laughter. In 1988, Michael met and fell in love with Suzanne (Jones) Moffett. They were married in 1989 and lived happily in Linden, NJ. In 2003, Michael retired from Pathmark after 40 years of service and the couple moved to Apopka, Florida. Together they owned and operated a cleaning service for 4 years until 2007 when they sold their company and moved to Melbourne Beach. During his years at Pathmark, Michael developed many friendships. He had a close connection with his friends Richie Fagan, Joe Rossi and Suzanne’s sister, Dolores McMahon. Michael and Suzanne spent a lot of time traveling with Dolores and Joe. They especially liked going to the Florida Keys together. Michael had a very special bond with his sister, Stephanie Reposh. He, Suzanne, Stephanie and her wife, Hope Resendes were together often vacationing, going out to dinner, and spending time together. Michael was a happy, positive and caring soul. He was liked by everyone who met him and loved by those who knew him. He loved family gatherings and holidays with Suzanne’s family and traveling to New Jersey to visit his grandchildren, family and friends. Michael liked the outdoors, nature and fishing. He and Suzie enjoyed going to Disney World, the zoo, the movies and the gym. They also enjoyed riding bicycles together. Michael loved spaghetti and meatballs and, of course, steak. A loving and devoted husband, father, stepfather, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend, Michael is survived by his wife Suzanne of 28 years; son, Andrew Gattuso and his wife, Orysia; daughter, Lia Baldwin and her husband, Shawn; stepson Robert Moffett and his wife, Chelle; stepson Jeffrey Moffett and his wife, Tracy; stepson, Darren Moffett and his wife, Tammy; grandchildren, Sabrina, Ryan, William, Bohdan, Eric and Lexi; sister, Stephanie Reposh and her wife, Hope Resendes; brother Salvatore Gattuso and his wife, Patricia, and many nieces, nephews and friends. Donations in memory of Michael may be made to the Hospice of Health First, 1900 Dairy Road, West Melbourne, FL 32904.