Paying tribute to a ‘generosity of spirit’
Former state senator remembered by family, Biden and Pelosi
Former state Sen. Biagio “Billy’’ Ciotto of Wethersfield was remembered Monday by friends, colleagues and President Joe Biden as an enthusiastic Italian American lawmaker whowent out of his way to help people during 68 years in state and federal government service. U.S. Rep. John Larson of East Hartford read a personal letter from Biden during the eulogy at the Cathedral of Saint Joseph in Hartford as friends mourned the loss of their 91-year-old colleague, whodied on March 20. Biden’s letter touched on his own family’s history with tragedies and loss.
“Please accept Jill’s and myheartfelt condolence on the passing of your beloved Billy,” Biden wrote to Ciotto’s wife of 66years, Jeanne, and her family. “I know that this time must be difficult beyond words, and you feel like there is a hole in your heart. In the hardest of times like these, I always turn to myfamily. It is so important to be able to share the feeling of enveloping grief and to have people youlove nearby to absorb someoftheworstpain.”
“From my experience, I promise you that the day will come when his memory will bring a smile to your lips before it brings a tear to your eye.”
Biden’s wife and 1-year-old daughter died in a car crash in 1972, and his son, Beau, died in 2015 of brain cancer.
“Though the grieving process never quite ends, it is my hope that you will find comfort in knowing that Billy will forever be in our hearts, our memories, and those of so many whose lives he touched,” he wrote. “From my experience, I promise you that the day will come when his memory will bring a smile to your lips before it brings a tear to your eye. My prayer for you and your family is that that day comes sooner rather than later.”
Larson also read a letter from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who became friends with Ciotto due to their association as Italian American Democrats.
“Every now and then, a person comes along whose heart is so full of love and whose life is so full of kindness that he radiates joy,” Pelosi wrote. “Such a person is Billy Ciotto. Perhaps he had such generosity of spirit because of how his parents raised Biagio and because of his happy marriage to Jeanne. Everyone loved Billy because
— President Joe Biden, in a letter to Ciotto’s wife, Jeanne
they knew Billy cared. ... Billy was in the arms of his loving family on March 19 — the feast of St. Joseph, the patron saint of a happy death and very special to Italian Americans — as he made his passage to heaven on the 20th.’’
Besides numerous family and friends, the funeral was attended by many of Ciotto’s colleagues, including U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, former U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd, former state Sen. Paul Doyle, former state Senate Democratic leader William DiBella and former state House Speaker Richard Balducci.