Edward C. Dalterio

Edward Charles Dalterio (Ed) of Southbury, CT passed away on January 20, 2026, at the age of 85 in Derby, CT. A man of boundless wit, impeccable manners and kindness, and deep love of his family, his food and the great outdoors, Ed touched everyone he met with his humor, optimism and low tolerance for whiners.

Ed was born on August 18, 1940, in Webster MA, to the late Joseph and Frances (Witkowski) Dalterio. He is survived by a beloved sister, Marilyn Dalterio of Southbridge, MA and a sister-in-law Mary Ann Drayton-Rogers of Oxford, CT. He was predeceased by his brother, Robert Dalterio.

Ed was married for 63 years to his wife and soulmate Barbara (Popowski) Dalterio, with whom he shared a life guided by one simple rule: to laugh and to make the other laugh every day. This he did unfailingly, setting an example cherished by his small family who adored their Pop and will always remember countless “Pop-isms” not necessarily suitable for public consumption.

In addition to Barbara, Ed leaves two daughters – Heather Joseph (Joshua) of Washington, DC and Leslie Nagy (Mark) of Southbury, CT, along with four incredibly special (his words) grandchildren: Brody Edward Nagy of Somerville, MA; Lily Elizabeth Nagy of Hingham, MA; Alexander Daniel Joseph of Washington, DC and Gannon James Nagy of Southbury, CT. It is this legacy that Ed was most proud of and what he cherished above all else.

Ed was VP of Global Marketing for Emhart/ Black & Decker, spending 41 years at the company in various positions of sales and marketing, and leaving his mark by leading with integrity, candor and humor. In contrast with his very impressive professional accomplishments, Ed was a man who loved everything about being outdoors. From cruising his beloved Boston Whaler(s) in the New Haven harbor, to hunting, fly fishing, golfing and putting the Godfather to shame with his vegetable garden, Ed belonged outdoors. The memories his family will cherish the most is of Pop in his element – growing killer tomatoes, organizing bocce and wiffle ball and water balloon fights, never letting anyone win unless they earned it, and finding the humor in every interaction. 

Pop had little patience for nonsense and taught us to be honest and direct. While he claimed to be an introvert and to not really “like people” – this was not accurate. Ed loved to chat, to tell stories, to trade jokes and to make new friends pretty much everywhere he went. Ed shared his immense talents with his community as well, serving for over seven years on the Southbury Strategic Planning Committee. He loved the challenge of finding long term solutions for immediate problems and of course he was always up for a good old-fashioned debate.

There will be a celebration of Ed’s life at a later date for family and friends. In lieu of flowers, please feel free to make donations to the Smilow Cancer Hospital, PO Box 1849, New Haven, CT 06508-9979 or a charity near to your heart.