Blaze L. "Bill" Garbatini, 84

Blaze L. "Bill" Garbatini, 84, of Orange, the husband of Irene Plaskon Garbatini, died Dec. 24, 2012 at the Hospital of St. Raphael's in New Haven.

He was born March 4, 1928 in New Haven, son of the late Augusto and Stella Constantino Garbatini.

Blaze graduated from Texas Christian University in 1954 and served two terms in U.S. Marine Corp. during the Korean Conflict.

Mr. Garbatini worked alongside his brother at the JC Furniture Store in Ansonia, before establishing the Valley Publishing Co. in Derby in 1959.

He was a parishioner of The Holy Infant Church in Orange, a member of The Marchegian Club in New Haven and a former Alderman in New Haven.

In addition to his wife, he leaves to cherish his memory his son Blaze A. Garbatini, his daughter Esti-Anne Garbatini, of Orange and his brother Romolo and Louise Garbatini, of North Haven. He was predeceased by two brothers, Gino and Raymond Garbatini.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday at 10 a.m. with friends asked to go directly to Holy Infant Church in Orange. Entombment with military honors will follow in Mt. St. Peter Cemetery Mausoleum in Derby. Friends may call on Thursday, (TODAY) 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at The Jenkins King & Malerba Funeral Home, 12 Franklin St., Ansonia. (www.jenkinskingfh.com)

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Wounded Warrior Project at www.woundedwarriorproject.org