Paul Matthew Proto, 62, of Madison, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 3, 2023 at Yale-New Haven Hospital with his family by his side. He was the beloved husband and best friend of 28 years to Genny (Troiano) Proto.
He is also survived by his sons, Paul Proto, Jr. and John Peter Calamita and his girlfriend, Cristina. Brother of Benjamin S. Proto, Jr. (Robyn). He is also survived by his mother in-law Filomena Troiano, brother-in-law Anthony (Maria) Troiano, sisters-in-law Lisa (Bill) Stowe, Maria (Jamie) Despres, and his nieces, nephews and friends who he adored and loved. He was pre-deceased by his father-in-law Pietro Troiano.
Paul was born in New Haven on August 5, 1961, and was the son of the late Benjamin Salvatore Proto, Sr. and Matilda Pasqualina (Iadonisi) Proto. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science from the University of New Haven and had worked as an IT Director for 4Catalyzer Corporation and later for HarcoSemco Aerospace Company of Branford.
Paul enjoyed drone photography, traveling, astronomy, paranormal research and was a rifle marksman. He loved animal especially all his dogs, going to the beach to watch the sunset with his wife, a good lobster roll from Supreme Seafood, but most of all spending time with his family, especially his sons, whom he loved unconditionally. Paul was a real jokester who loved telling “Dad Jokes” and a magician who enjoyed doing his magic tricks for family and friends. He was a Brother of the Madison Masonic Lodge No. 87, a member of the North Branford Republican Town Committee and was a Police Commissioner for the North Branford Police Department.
The visiting hours will be Monday morning, October 9th from 9:30 to 11:15 AM at The Havens Family North Haven Funeral Home, 36 Washington Avenue, North Avenue. His funeral procession will leave the funeral home at 11:30 AM to St. Pio of Pietrelcina Parish at Our Lady of Pompeii Church, 355 Foxon Road, East Haven for a Mass of Christian burial to be celebrated at 12:00 PM. Interment will be private and at the convenience of the family.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital, P.O. Box 50, Memphis, TN, 38101-9929.
Ben, my deepest sympathy to you and your family and may your brother Paul rest in peace.
Sincerely,
Bill Pizzuto
My prayers and love go out to the whole Proto family. RIP Paul
Paul Proto helped solve a 47 year old mystery and return my sister Patricia’s name to her. My family will always be grateful. Our deepest sympathies.
May Mr. Proto rest in paradise. My sincerest condolences to the Proto Family and any other loved ones affected.
Paul was definitely a great guy who made us laugh growing up.He will definitely be missed by many. Godspeed
I worked with Paul at CuraGen. He was always so helpful and giving whenever I needed help with a computer issue. He always had a smile on his face and would have a joke to tell to keep all of us laughing. Even after there was no CuraGen, I could message Paul on Facebook and he always helped me out. I considered Paul a good friend even after we lost touch. I am deeply saddened at his passing and completely shocked. My sincerest condolences to your family. I know they have lost a very special man.
Love you Paul! Your dad jokes will never be forgotten!!
A truly kind and bright soul. How lucky we were when Paul entered the family. A wonderful father, step father and husband. He will be missed greatly. Rest in peace 🤍
My deepest thoughts and prayers to the Proto family during this very difficult time. May God protect and watch over them.
Rest in peace Paul. I’ll always remember you and the good times we shared over the years, especially our recent class get togethers. You were one of the good guys! 😢🙏
Vin Landisio
NDHS ‘79
Paul has always been a class act. May God bless you and your family. It’s been an honor to know you.
Paul,
It was great connecting with you afyer all these years for get together with classmates from ND. We discussed our love of politics and you were very well read on a number of topics, all with a great sense of humor..RIP my friend.Youll be missed
A great man with a beautiful family.
My condolences to you and your family, PJ. May he rest in peace.
-John, Phi Delta Theta
So sorry to hear this. Paul helped us voluntarily with his drone to try to help located the grave of an unidentified 1975 homicide victim. This was the first time I met him but I knew his family. Truly saddened by this news. My sincere wishes for his family.
My heartfelt condolences to you and your family. Sorry about your loss.
May all the good memories get all that knew you Paul, through these difficult times. Rest easy my friend.
Melissa Yates
St. Mary’s Grammar School
Classmate.
Dearest Proto Family: My sincerest condolences on this tremendous loss. Paul was a good, caring friend and we shared family stories. Oh how he loved Genny & his boys & “the compound”. When my husband was sick and I lost my CuraGen job, he said he wished he could change places with me because it would be easier for him to find employment. We kept in touch over the years & his Proto humor kept me smiling. God Bless You 🙏 . May he rest in peace.
I only met Paul a few times but it was obvious right away that he was the type of guy who would give you the shirt off his back and do anything he could to help other people. My heart aches for his family and friends for their loss of such a wonderful, caring person. Rest in Peace, Paul .
I was so saddened to hear of Paul’s passing. He was a great guy. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.
A great friend, a great man, rest in peace big guy.
Rest In Peace Paul. You were a shining light at Notre Dame. You made a tough day more fun. God bless you my friend.
Our condolences to the Proto family. Paul was an outstanding young man and a close friend to my son David and his wife Diane.
Ben, Lois and I offer you our deepest regrets and sincerest condolences on your brother’ s passing. We only wish that we could say more.
Rest in Peace my friend. Met Paul at age 13 and have been friends ever since, even through many mile apart! Great person who will be missed terribly. Prayers to the entire family.
I am so saddened by the loss of my cousin Paulie. My heart goes out to his wife Genny, sons PJ and JP and the entire Proto family. I wish i could be there at the service today, but unfortunately was not able to….I know there will be alot of love in that room today as he had so many family and friends who loved him. Prayers to his family whom he loved so much! He was such a good man and so proud of his sons and wife. I will miss your jokes and wonderful sense of humor….Rest in Peace Paul.
Genny I am so very sorry, my heart goes out to you and the boys. I pray that with time the wonderful memories you and Paul made together will help easy the pain. If you need anything I’m only a phone call away. I will keep you and your family in my prayers.
My sincerest sympathies and my prayers go out to Paul’s family. I worked with Paul and he always made me laugh. He is such a great guy.
The world lost one of its brightest, shining stars. To the entire Proto family, may you be comforted in knowing that Paul now is with God because God needed an angel.
I was proud to call this man, my friend for the last 45 years. He always added some thing to the room, whether it be wisdom or humor it was always comforting to have Paul around. I will truly miss you my friend.
Ben and Robyn – So sorry for your loss. May he rest in peace.
My condolences go out to the entire family. Paul was a good man and a good friend. May he rest in peace.