Ernesto A. Ruperti

MERIDEN-Ernesto A. Ruperti, 96, formerly of 101 Amity St., Meriden, CT, died on April 15, 2001, at the Connecticut Baptist Home in Meriden, after a long illness. He was predeceased by his beloved wife Carmen Silva who died in 1999 after 66 years of marriage. They were married in New York City in 1931. He was born May 3, 1904 in Manta, Ecuador, the son of Jorge Ruperti and Maria Pricela Muentes. In the early 1920's he served in the Ecuadorean merchant fleet until 1927 when he immigrated to the United States and settled in New York City. He established a career in the hotel trades and worked at the Hotel Pierre in New York City until he and his famiily moved to Meriden in 1943. The International Silver Company, Factory R, employed him until his retirement in 1971. At that time, he and his wife moved to Tampa, Florida during the winters and continued to enjoy summers in Meriden near their family. Several years ago they stopped wintering in Tampa and remained in Meriden in order to be near their children and grandchildren. An artistic person, his favorite pastimes were designing and completing woodcarvings and metal craft projects. His art often depicted marine themes that expressed his lifetime love of the sea. He enjoyed music and was a self-taught pianist. A devoted and hardworking family man he found his greatest pleasure in everyday family life and household activities. Mowing the lawn or shoveling snow brought a smile to his face. Nothing pleased him more than to have all his children and relatives gather to celebrate holidays and special occasions. He was admired, respected and loved by his family and friends. Mr. Ruperti is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, David and Priscilla Boivin and William and Nydia Saros; two grandsons and their wives, Gary and Wendy Boivin, Gregory and Carole-Lynn Saros; four granddaughters and their husbands, Daniel and Diana (Boivin) Cahill, Bryan and Paula (Boivin) Woodhouse, David and Lisa (Saros) Lindsay and Craig and Laura (Saros) Odermatt; eleven great-grandchildren, Matthew, Jason, Alicia, Jacob, Zachary, Allison, Cooper, Ayla, Jasmine, Olivia and Cal. Two brothers, Pablo Ruperti of Meriden and Ranulfo Ruperti of Honesdale, Pennsylvania, and many nieces and nephews also survive him. He was predeceased by one grandson, Mark Ernest Boivin, Meriden; and by four brothers, Enrique, Guillermo, Carlos and Ricardo Ruperti; and two sisters, Victoria Molina and Elena Farfan of Ecuador. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, April 23, 2001, at St. John Lutheran Church, 520 Paddock Avenue, Meriden. The Rev. Wallace Merdinyan will officiate. Burial will be in Gethsemane Cemetery. Relatives and friends may call Sunday from 5 to 8 p.m. at BEECHER & BENNETT FLATOW FUNERAL HOME, 48 Cook Ave., Meriden, CT.