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Cognetta was born Oct. 1, 1933, to Pasquale and Angelina (Loglisci) Cognetta.
Cognetta grew up on Rose Park, on the west side of Stamford, and attended Stamford public schools. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1953 and was honorably discharged in 1955. Upon his return home, he began his career as a mason apprentice and received his certification in 1959.
After his retirement from the trade, Cognetta fulfilled a lifelong dream of his by owning and operating the Brass Rail restaurant in Stamford from 1983-86.
Cognetta was a past member of the Umbrella Club of Stamford and a past officer and current member of the Gravinese Mutual Aid Society of Stamford.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Mona Cronsell Cognetta; his children, Lynn and Mickey Vitti, Abby and Walter Pegoli, Marie and Bob Cassidy, his 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Cognetta also is survived by his sister, Maryanne Santora, sister-in-laws Irene Cognetta, Gerd Nilsson, and brother-in-law Nils Cronsell.
Cognetta was preceded in death by a son Joseph P. Cognetta Jr., his brother and sister-in-laws, Michael Cognetta (Rose), Jeff Cognetta, Nick Cognetta Sr. (Naida), Frank Cognetta, Sr. (Tillie) and his brother-in-law, William Santora.
Visitation is at 2-6 p.m., Sunday, at Bosak Funeral Home, 453 Shippan Ave., Stamford.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday at Our Lady Star Of The Sea Roman Catholic Church, 1200 Shippan Ave., Stamford.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in his memory to High Hopes Therapeutic Horseback Riding of Old Lyme, 36 Town Woods Road, Old Lyme, CT 06371.
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