Elio Puzzuoli

A much-loved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, son and brother who truly lived life “his way,” Elio “Al” Puzzuoli, of Tempe, Arizona, passed away peacefully on February 13, 2020, surrounded by his family, after a long fight with dementia. He was 88. Elio was born on June 5, 1931, in Arpino, Italy to Agnese and Vincenzo “Jimmy” Puzzuoli. He came to America in 1934 aboard the S.S. Rex and settled with his family in Metro Detroit. A 1949 Dearborn Fordson H.S. graduate, Elio was an early entrepreneur who ran several small businesses in Dearborn but will be most remembered as the founder of Puzzuoli’s Auto Service. Elio spent the latter part of his life in “beautiful” Arizona tending to his garden while still tinkering with cars. He is preceded in death by parents, Agnese and Vincenzo; and his first wife, Naomi. Survivors include wife, Vickie; children, Kathy (Melvin) Smith, Jim (Cyndi), Cindy (Phil) Palmeri, Chris (Connie) and Jessica (David) Slazenski; siblings Thomas (Deanne) and Dolly (Joe) Morrow; grandchildren, Melissa (Chris) Tortorice, James (Krystal), Megan Smith, Chris, Andrew, Samantha (Neil) Vaughn, and Vincent; and great-grandchildren, Elliot, Trevor, Wyatt, Evelyn, Elio, and Ember. A Memorial Mass will be held 12:00 noon Saturday, June 5, 2021, at St Alphonsus/St Clement Parish Memorial donations suggested to the Alzheimer's Association. Watch Elio's Memorial Mass.