Michael DePalma

Michael DePalma, 94, of West Haven, CT, died peacefully on Sunday August 30, 2020.  He leaves behind his loving wife of 57 years, Patricia Mazaleski DePalma.  Mike, also known as “Mickey” to his friends and family, was born on Wooster Street, in New Haven, CT, son of the late Pasquale DePalma and Maria Dattilo DePalma.  He was predeceased by his brother Lorenzo DiPalma, his sister Rose M. Russo and her husband Joseph. Also predeceased by his sister-in-law Eleanor Cambardella, and her husband Joseph, and his nephew Louis Cambardella.

Up until this past year, he lived in the same house for 87 years on Captain Thomas Blvd., in West Haven. Mickey was proud of where he lived and often reminisced of the old days when he worked at his father's carnival stand, (Baker’s Ball Game), at the Savin Rock Amusement Park.  A year ago he moved to Pawcatuck, CT to be closer to his family in Rhode Island.

Mikey was a 1944 graduate of West Haven High School, where he was the captain of both the Baseball and Basketball teams. Teammates were known to call him,  “Quick as QuickSilver”.  Upon graduation, Mickey enlisted into the United States Navy, becoming a proud veteran of WWII. You would often hear him telling stories about crossing the Pacific three times without a scratch. He
was employed by the West Haven Board of Education, Maintenance Department, and retired from there in 1988.

“Pop” proudly leaves behind his beloved daughter, Diane DePalma Perino and her husband Mark of Westerly, RI, his grandsons, Ryan Gilman and his fiance Mackenzie Bremges, also of Westerly, RI, and Sean Gilman and his wife Jennifer of East Greenwich, RI, and his step grandsons Matthew Perino of Philadelphia, PA, and John Perino of Westerly, RI. He is survived by his sister-in-law Agatha DiPalma of White Plains, NY, formerly of Orange, CT, his nephew Lawrence DiPalma and his wife Janet of West Haven, CT, and his niece Maria Laudano and husband Joseph of Tarrytown, NY.  “Uncle Mickey” was a loving great-uncle to Jared and Marie DiPalma, Elizabeth and Jeffrey Szuba, and Melissa and Gerald Wang, and seven great-nieces and nephews. “Uncle Mike” is also survived by his nephew, William Cambardella and his wife Michele of Sinking Spring, PA, his nieces Cynthia Cambardella of Ames, Iowa, Debbie Cambardella of Rising Sun, MD and Mary Kamberger and husband John of Clear Lake, Iowa and many great nieces and nephews.


Mike always had a passion for baseball, being a lifetime fan of the New York Yankees, with Rizutto, DiMaggio and Berra being some of his old time favorites. Basketball being a close second, he never missed a UCONN Women’s game, and you could always find Mike in your March Madness college basketball bracket.  Mickey loved sports, cars, and playing cards, especially poker, with his wife and friends where he played at the West Haven Senior Center and the Italian American Club.

Above all, Pop cherished the times he spent with his twin grandsons. Especially watching them “play ball”.  Along with Mimi, he rarely missed a sporting or school event that they were involved in. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him, especially his family, and all of his grand puppies.