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Koldo Beristain

We are absolutely heartbroken to have to share the news of our father, Koldo Beristain, passing on Sept. 8, 2024. He was at home surrounded by love with his wife, remaining adult children, and grandchildren. He was born in Alzola, in the Basque Country located in northern Spain, on Aug. 24, 1936, during the Spanish Civil War. He lived there, protected from the war with his mother and grandparents while his father was fighting in the war against the Spanish Dictatorship. At the age of 10, he was brought to Mutriku, another small town nearby, to be reunited with his father, mother, and 12 younger siblings.

Their journey began at a town dance that was held in the main cobblestoned plaza in Mutriku. Our father approached our mother and asked her a simple question; “Will you dance with me all night?” Five years later, he married the love of his life on Oct. 14, 1961. He was the most devoted husband to his wife, Arantza, for 63 years. They were each other’s world, entrusted one another to leave their small village and cross the ocean for a life in a country where they didn’t speak the language but knew they were doing it together, and that’s all they needed. After living in a couple of different counties and states in the U.S., his work brought him to Connecticut. On a weekend day, he gathered our mom and his children into our green station wagon and began to look for a home. We always did everything as a family. After driving around through several surrounding towns, we came upon Old Saybrook. Taking a right turn off Main Street and onto Maple Avenue, where he would describe the beautiful big trees hanging over the road as if driving through a green tunnel. He would say, “It’s the most beautiful street he had ever seen!” Continuing up Maple Avenue and coming up to the Long Island coastline, it reminded him of home. Turning into the Fenwood neighborhood, our mom noticed a house with the number 61 and turned to our father and said, “That house has the same number of the year we married,” and in 1976, they purchased their forever home.

He raised four children with all the love in his heart, embracing fatherhood as the most important job he ever had, and his grandchildren were unconditionally precious to him. When you did see him, he always enjoyed listening and would be engaging. He wanted to know everything about you. He made you feel like you mattered, if even only during a five-minute conversation. His response to someone saying “Have a good day!” was “No, have a great day!” We are at a loss. He was the best man we’ve ever known. He is what it means to be a husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, cousin, uncle and friend. He is now reunited with his beloved son, Koldobika.

He will forever be in our hearts, and we will cherish all our memories with warmth and a smile.