Lewis “Lew” Volpicella, 76, longtime resident of Burlington and Bristol, devoted husband, loving father, grandfather, brother and uncle, unexpectedly passed away Sunday, May 8, 2016 in St. Francis Hospital surrounded by his family. Lew was born April 9, 1940, and raised in Brooklyn, NY. He was the eldest of four boys to the late Joseph and Joanna (DeGaeta) Volpicella. He attended William E Grady HS and started his work career in the automotive field early in life. While attending Farmingdale State College SUNY to earn his Associate degree, Lew was selected by the Alumni Association as “Outstanding Graduate of 1960”, he was President of the Student Council, Parliamentarian of the Inter-Dormitory Council and a member of the Society of Automotive Technicians and Newman Club. In addition, at Mock Senate in Albany, NY, Lew was elected Majority Leader by student representatives of 30 other N.Y. colleges. In 1961, Lew married the love of his life, Lucretia Costanzo. They briefly lived in Boston before settling in Connecticut where Lew held various positions in the automotive industry. Being the visionary and entrepreneur he was, on March 9, 1970, Lew founded Bristol Auto Parts. Together with his brother Angelo, who joined him as a partner in 1974, they worked countless hours to build Bristol Auto Parts to a 5 store operation, with 2016 being their 46th anniversary. What Lew found to be the most satisfying part of his life was to spend time with his family and friends, play the Italian card game, Scopa, make all around him laugh with his great sense of humor, and to be with his grandchildren. Lew enjoyed caring for his beautiful gardens and was a member of the Garden Club of Bristol. For many years, he loved driving his family and friends in his pair of antique Rolls Royce Silver Clouds. Baseball was his favorite pastime, and being a born and bred New Yorker, he avidly followed the NY Yankees. Lew made friends wherever he went, and could win anyone over with his infectious laugh and smile. Along with his loving wife Lucretia, Lew will be dearly missed and fondly remembered by his adored family; his daughter and son-in-law, Sandra and Hamid Modarressi, two cherished grandchildren, Kameron and Sofia Modarressi, all of Farmington; three brothers and their families, Angelo Volpicella, his wife Terry, of Bristol, their sons Michael “Mike” and Joseph “Joey” Volpicella, Joseph “Joe” Volpicella, his wife Mary Ellen, of Staten Island, NY, their son Christian Volpicella, John Volpicella, his wife Sue, of Bristol, their children, Kevin Volpicella (Alyssa) and Jeanine Volpicella; two brothers-in-law, Don Costanzo (Trudy) of California, Tom Costanzo of Bristol; two sisters-in-law, Mary Magliuo (Vincent) of Bristol, Ann Reardon of Florida; numerous nieces and nephews; and a dear family friend Robin Trenchard, her husband Thomas “Tom” and their children, Ian and Madeline, all of Avon. Along with his parents, Lew was predeceased by his father and mother-in-law, Gaetano and Rita Costanzo and a brother-in-law William Costanzo. Friends and relatives may pay their respects to the Volpicella family Monday, May 16, 2016 from 4-8pm at the DuPont Funeral Home, 25 Bellevue Ave., Bristol. A Mass of Christian Burial celebrating Lew’s life will be held Tuesday,May 17 at 11am in St. Gregory Church, 285 Matlby St., Bristol (all attendees are asked to go directly to the church). Interment will follow the mass in new St. Joseph Cemetery (section 48), Terryville Ave., Rte 6, Bristol. Lew’s funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Farley-Sullivan Funeral Home, 34 Beaver Rd., Wethersfield. To extend online condolences and/or share a memory, please visit farleysullivan.com