Pasquale “Pat” Testa, 81, of Tuttles Point in Guilford, set sail for the greatest journey of them all on May 16, at home in the company of his loving wife Kathy Testa.

Born Oct. 7, 1940, on Wooster Street in New Haven to Cosimo and Jenny Testa, Pat was an electrician most of his life, but his tenure at Metro-North, from 1974 to 1985, became part of railroad legend. He owned his own electrical business for many years and in retirement repaired lamps up and down the shoreline.

The “Captain,” as he was called by just about all who knew him, is also survived by daughter Melanie Testa and husband David Romine of Deep River; son Michael Testa and wife Terri Testa of Madison and their children and spouse Michael Jr. and Janna Testa of Middletown, Kyle Testa and partner Taylor Thompson of Middletown, and Cameron Testa of Madison; sister Carmela Popolizio of Wallingford; in-laws William Creamer, Sr., and wife Sandy Creamer of East Haven; nephew William Creamer, Jr., and wife Angela Creamer and their children Jack and Sophie of Guilford; and niece Jill and Tony Diglio and their children of Northford.

Pat and Kathy loved sailing and the couple spent countless summer days aboard sailboats, Folie a Deux, and the Emily E., which was named for his mother-in-law. When time and tide were right, they would head across Long Island Sound to Mattituck for overnight adventures. Closer to shore, he enjoyed crabbing in his wooden Brockway, built by and purchased from the fabled Earl Brockway of Old Saybrook. The boat’s black hull with blue trim was well known up and down the Sound, and anyone, young or old, who could manage a crab net was welcome aboard.

The man with the salty beard had many haunts, but his favorite was the Len Hubbard Marina in Guilford, where he spent many a day telling tales of the sea, his boats, and his colorful life.

Pat also had a passion for cooking and when he wasn’t cooking, he enjoyed watching cooking shows on TV, particularly the Italian ones. Friends claim that after conversations with him about sauce, the importance of coming to the table as soon as the pasta was ready, or the crime of buying anything but the freshest ingredients, they actually gained a pound or two by the time Pat was finished talking.

Generations of neighborhood children found their way to Pat’s front porch not because he vaguely resembled a certain jolly old elf, but because he always made time for each and every one.

His greatest love of all, after his wife of course, was the joy of making people laugh and bringing brightness and happiness to all who crossed his path.

There are no calling hours, but a celebration of his life is planned for July. Kathy asks that in lieu of flowers, please send donations to Save the Sound, www.savethesound.org.