Occupation: My brother Dave and I own Barzetti Welding in Bethel. We do everything from submarine parts to computer semiconductors to aircraft. We do a lot of precision welding. We have a lot of people who come down with homeowner stuff, too - in
Occupation: My brother Dave and I own Barzetti Welding in Bethel. We do everything from submarine parts to computer semiconductors to aircraft. We do a lot of precision welding. We have a lot of people who come down with homeowner stuff, too â interesting stuff, like gadgets and inventions theyâve come up with. Itâs fun to work with them, itâs gratifying.
Family: I have a wonderful son, Austin, who is 16, and a junior at Newtown High School. He wrestles with the varsity team. My fiancée is Iali, but thereâs no wedding date set yet. She has two children, so that keeps us busy.
Pets: Duke is a 120-pound Labrador, who is my office manager. Heâs 11 years old now, and comes to work with me every day, and he goes mountain biking when I go. Heâs forever 3 years old. We have a couple of goldfish and a resident great blue heron on our pond. Iali has a dachshund and a Pomeranian, so itâs like the Three Stooges, with big Duke and the others being about two inches high, it seems.
How long have you lived in Newtown? Only for two years. I was in Redding the rest of my life.
What do you like to do in your free time? I mountain bike, and in the winter, I snow ski with Austin. I like to scuba dive and I go hunting and fishing. Iâm a gardener, more of shrubs and flowers. I love economics and politics, and I enjoy reading. I love writing letters to the editor. Someday, Iâd like to write a book.
Do you have a favorite author? My all time favorite author would be Ayn Rand and my favorite book would be Atlas Shrugged, which has got to be one of the most widely read books, besides The Bible. Ameritopia by Mark Levin is my favorite newer book.
Do you have a favorite sports team? I will go with New England, or the Jets, or the Giants in football, whoever is winning at the time. Iâm not devout.
Do you have a favorite travel destination? All of my vacation time is spent diving. My favorite spot is an island off of Honduras, called Roatan. We go to a little resort there. Itâs like the Tahiti of the western hemisphere. It has the second largest reef in the world, stretching from the Caribbean to half way down South America. Thereâs so much to see down there.
What is the best thing about Newtown? I think geographically, itâs beautiful, especially the farms and fields and general open space. But itâs the people who make a town. Iâve made wonderful friends and have some great neighbors. And Austin has loved just about every teacher heâs had since we moved here. I think thatâs a tribute to the town.
Who has been the greatest influence in your life? My mom and dad. Dad taught us really hard work. He made a wood furnace for our house, and for 15 years, my brother and I had to feed that furnace. We had to cut and split all of the wood. He taught us to respect people and be honest. My mom taught us patience and to forgive others. Both instilled things that have carried me through my life.
Do you have a personal philosophy? That old saying, treat others as you want to be treated yourself. Honor the country and fight for our freedoms, but be wary of government, that it doesnât get too onerous in our lives.
Do you have a guilty pleasure? Sitting on a couch and watching sports on a beautiful sunny day. To just sit there and enjoy a football game â sitting when I should be doing something productive. Thatâs my guilty pleasure.