Gaetano T. Abruzzese, 84, of Wareham, died Oct. 3, 2015 in the V.A. Hospital, West Roxbury. He was the husband of Jean N. (Sammarco) Abruzzese. His first wife, Doris E. (Jones) Abruzzese died in 1991. He was the father of the late Gaetano T. Abruzzese, Jr. and the son of the late Michael and Maria (Carusso) Abruzzese.

He was born in Boston and lived in Braintree before moving to West Wareham 16 years ago.

Mr. Abruzzese served in the Navy during the Korean War. He graduated from Boston University and the University of Wisconsin – Stout where he received a Ph.D. in Education.

Mr. Abruzzese worked as a teacher at Quincy Vocational Technical High School for many years before retiring. He was known by many as “Mr. A”. He was also Chief Examiner for G.E.D. and the Director of Night School in Quincy.

He devoted his life to education and his mission was to educate children. He was loved by everybody. He was a charter member of the Braintree Lodge of Elks and was Member #1 and a member of the American Legion Post 220 in Wareham.

Survivors include his widow, Jean N. (Sammarco) Abruzzese of West Wareham; 2 daughters, Kathleen R. Abruzzese of Braintree and Suzanne M. Fritsch and her husband Tom of Raleigh , NC; a sister, Anna Maloney of Neponset; 2 brothers, Peter Abruzzese of Avon and Lawrence Abruzzese of Braintree; 7 grandchildren; 6 great grandchildren; his step children, Cynthia Adams of Pocasset, Carmine Sammarco of Norfolk and Tina LeBlanc of Marlboro; 8 step grandchildren; 9 great step grandchildren; nephews and nieces. He was the brother of the late Anthony, Michael and Salvatore Abruzzese.

His funeral will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015 from the Chapman, Cole Gleason Funeral Home, 2599 Cranberry Hwy., Wareham, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. in St. Patrick’s Church, 82 High St., Wareham.

Burial will follow in the Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne. Visiting hours are from 3 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home. For directions and online guestbook, visit: www.ccgfunerahome.com.