Eugene A. Diserio, a long-time New Canaan resident and retired attorney, died at his home on Monday, September 22 in the embrace of his family. He was 81 and finally succumbed to heart disease, which he had valiantly fought against for many years. Mr. Diserio is survived by Roseanne C. Diserio, his beloved wife of 56 years. They met as teenagers, and eventually married in June, 1952. He is also survived by his sister, Elaine Schroeder of Scarsdale, New York; three daughters and their spouses, Eugenie Diserio and Bill Buttenwieser, Lisa and Mark Wolff and Thea and Robert Ross – all of New Canaan – and a son and daughter in law, Matthew J. Diserio and Vanessa Kagan Diserio of New York City. He is also survived by eleven grandchildren: James, Alex, Andrew and Austin Wolff, Jake Diserio and Luke Buttenwieser, Ariana and Bobby Ross – all of New Canaan – and Olivia, Sophia and Gigi Diserio of New York City. Mr.Diserio was born on May 14, 1927 in the Bronx, New York. He was the son of the Honorable Matthew J. Diserio and Mrs. Irma M. Diserio. He was the Godson of then New York City Mayor, Fiorello H. LaGuardia. Mr. Diserio was a graduate of Fordham Preparatory School, Fordham College, and Fordham Law School. He served as a Captain in the United States Air Force, from which he received an Honorable Discharge in 1953. Following his military service, Mr. Diserio began his legal career in New York City. After sixteen years, he moved his practice to Stamford, Connecticut. In 1983, he and three partners established the firm of Diserio, Martin, O’Conner & Castiglioni. Mr. Diserio was an active and involved civic leader. He was President of the Big Brothers of the Archdiocese of the City of New York and a member of the Cardinal’s Committee of Lay Organizations. He served as a two-term President of the Easter Seal Rehabilitation Center of Southwestern Connecticut. He served on Fleet Bank’s Fairfield County Advisory Board and was a member of the Executive Committee of the Southwestern Area Commerce & Industry Association of Connecticut (SACIA), from which he was twice the recipient of its Special Achievement Award. He was Chairman of its Transportation Council, which helped put forward numerous traffic control, car-pooling and commuter improvement initiatives. Mr. Diserio was a long-time member, a Director and two-term President of the New Canaan Field Club. He held positions on the Board of Governors and Executive Committee of the Landmark Club, Stamford. He and his wife, Roseanne, are members of the Woodway Country Club, Darien, Connecticut and the John’s Island Club in Vero Beach, Florida, where they have resided during the winter season since his retirement from active law practice. In recent years, besides reveling in the company of his family and maintaining his keen interest in national and global affairs, Mr. Diserio developed his talent as a writer of poetry. Friends may call at the Hoyt Funeral Home at 199 Main Street, New Canaan, from 4:00-8:00pm on Thursday, September 25th. www.hoytfuneralhome.com A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30am on Friday, September 26th at St. Aloysius Church, Cherry Street, New Canaan. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Mr. Diserio’s name may be made to the New Canaan Volunteer Ambulance Corps, 182 South Avenue; New Canaan, CT 06840 and The Yale School of Medicine, Section of Cardiovascular Medicine, c/o Margaret Lukaszyk, Office of Development, P.O. Box 7611, New Haven, CT 06519.