Scott Sorvillo, 59, of East Haven, died Dec. 28 at his home. He was born Sept. 18, 1954 in Duluth, Minnesota to the late Ralph and Elizabeth (Hanft) Sorvillo. 

Scott earned his pilot’s license at age 16, and then completed a teaching degree at Southern Connecticut State University. While teaching science at East Haven High School he received the teacher of the year award. The lure of jet aviation enticed him to enter the U.S. Air Force, but upon hearing of the long wait for a jet training slot, he took an honorable discharge to begin an entrepreneurial career.

He loved to serve the public and be part of the fabric of the community. He began a roofing, gutter, and siding business that grew into Thompson General Contractors, which did many large jobs for the State of Connecticut, including the modern boardwalk through the dunes at Hammonasset State Park. Never one to sit idle, he maintained several properties with numerous rentals and always charged a very fair rent. He was loved by the community, and his habit of visiting all the local people was a genuine interest. Fascinating, talented characters were always part of his inner circle. 

Scott’s love of animals created many extraordinary dogs; one being a Beagle, “Ralph,” who was trained to walk up a ladder onto ranch house roofs, and once walked himself back home to East Haven for seven days after he ran off a job in Hamden.

Scott’s community spirit led to membership at the YMCA and years of handball. He was a lifelong experienced pilot who belonged to the Connecticut Aircraft Pilots Association. With fellow pilots flying all their own planes, Scott visited countless national and regional air shows all across the United States. His lust for the air and the best of patriotic American enterprise blended when in the year 2000 he created an exceptionally rare expansion of a federal fence zone at Tweed New Haven Airport. Resulting in dozens of large private airplane hangars connected by runway access to the airport, known as North East Ramp Co-op. 

Scott is survived by Ralph “Skip” and MJ Sorvillo, Christian Sorvillo and his wife Kay, Suzanne Paquin and her husband Paul, David Sorvillo, Laura Sorvillo, Karen Pellegrino Sorvillo, Erica McCarthy, Paige Sorvillo, Morgan Kiger and her husband Elliot, Jeffrey Sorvillo and Ashley and Nathan, Matthew Sorvillo, Emily Sorvillo, Rachele Paquin, Adam Paquin, and Alexander Sorvillo.

Family will receive friends Sunday, Jan. 5  from 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at the Clancy Funeral Home, 43 Kirkham Ave, East Haven. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Scott Sorvillo may be made to East Haven Animal Shelter. Clancy Funeral Home, East Haven, is in charge of arrangements.