William Rocco Donaruma, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend, passed away on October 14, 2026, at the age of 82.

Bill shared 59 wonderful years of marriage with his beloved wife, Mary Jessie Cicchetti Donaruma. He was a devoted husband, a wonderful father to William (Robin), Jessica (Thomas Foti), and Natalie (Shawn Dubis), and a loving brother to Andrea Bartick and Allen Donaruma. Above all, Bill was a proud and loving grandfather to his eight grandchildren—Ryan, Andrew, John, Molly, Amelia, Lilah, Juliana, and Ella—who brought him immeasurable joy and were a constant source of happiness in his life. His love for his family was at the heart of who he was, and the memories they shared will be cherished always.

A graduate of Boston Latin School and UMass, Bill was a man of many interests who loved nature, art, travel, and discovering new places. He was a sharp dresser who took pride in his appearance and always had a way of making an impression. He had a wonderful balance of funny and serious, loved giving advice—whether asked for or not—and had a gift for making people smile.

Bill owned RCI Residential, a real estate appraisal business, and believed in giving back. He was a longtime member and past president of the Branford Rotary Club, a member of the Branford Land Trust, and volunteered both locally and overseas. Never one to sit still, he continued finding ways to bring people together, including helping to establish an art gallery at his senior living community.

Bill will be remembered for his love of family, his quick wit, his generosity, his impeccable style, and his desire to make a difference. He lived life with curiosity and purpose, always ready with a story, an opinion, or a bit of advice.

He leaves behind a loving family and many friends who will miss him dearly and remember him with love, laughter, and gratitude.