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Michael Imperati

Michael James Imperati was born on April 28, 1935, to the late Leo Imperati and Lucy Massaro Imperati. Our beloved father and Poppy went to heaven on Nov. 18, 2024, at the age of 89 years old.

During Mike’s “Mickey’s” early work years, he worked at Connecticut Hard Rubber in New Haven, where he met his beloved first wife Judith Bunnell, whom he married on Aug. 4, 1962. They were married for 27 years until Judy’s untimely death in 1989. They share two daughters, JoAnn Zendan (Mike) of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Laurie Brennan of Branford. Mike served in the Peace Time Army Services from 1958 to 1960 in Korea. Mike was proud to serve his country and would often show his patriotism by wearing red, white, and blue. After marriage, Mike worked for Amtrak Railroad for 18 years as a sheet metal worker until his early retirement. During those years, he enjoyed camping at Lake Sebago, Maine, with the families of his Amtrak buddies and the many picnics, dinners, and laughs he has shared with Judy’s Girls Club couples.

After Judy’s death, Mike was lucky to find love a second time around and happily married Maryanne Bergantino Amendola on Feb. 7, 1992. They moved to Jupiter and then Port St. Lucie, Florida, soon after marriage. They enjoyed traveling together and often spent time singing to old show tunes on their long car rides. They were married for 29 years before her passing in 2022.

Mike was a doting husband, adoring father, loving brother, and supportive Poppy to his ten grandchildren: Gabrielle, Michael, and Andrew Zendan of Charlotte, North Carolina; Jason and Melissa Brennan of Branford; Max Amendola and Josephine Barker of Killingworth; Phoenix and China of Killingworth; and Cadence Amendola of Madison. He also leaves behind his sister Genevieve Como of East Haven and many nieces and nephews.

There will be many things we will miss about our Poppy: his love of Mickey Mouse, his sauce and meatballs, his fried dough pizza, and his love of winning. He was a very good athlete and won trophies at bocce and ribbons at horseshoes. He could also play a good round of billiards, and he was ruthless at card games!

The family would like to thank Dr. Michael Nanna, the Lung Life staff, his aides, the Yale New Haven Hospital Nine West staff, and nurses for their dedication to his care.

Services were held in November through Keenan Funeral Home. Donations can be made in honor of Michael to the American Lung Association.