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STAMFORD, Conn. - Michael J. Coppola, Jr., a Stamford native, Sunday, Aug. 4. He was 81.
Coppola was born June 29, 1932, son of Michael Coppola and Eva (Fronio) Coppola. He attended Stamford public schools for his early education and then attended St. Basil's Prepatory School and Eastern Military Academy. His last two years of high school, funded by a sports scholarship, were at the private school Edgewood in Greenwich where he was a three letter athlete, excelling in baseball.
He played in the Twilight League in Stamford and also with the Stamford Advocate Newspaper team, which led to his start in professional baseball when he was signed by the Boston Braves to their class A farm team in 1951. He played two years in Class A leagues in Texas and Illinois prior to serving two years with the U.S. Army in Germany. While there, he played baseball and basketball with his company team. In 1955 he returned to pro ball with the Kansas City farm team in Wythville, Va. He, however, decided to return to Stamford to work in his family's business, the Stamford Tile Co.
Coppola is survived by his wife, Katherine "Rena" Coppola; daughter, Mary Deborah Valentine; a granddaughter; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents; brothers, Samuel Coppola and Joseph Coppola; and son-in-law, Michael Valentine. Calling hours are Thursday, Aug. 8 from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Lacerenza Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 8 Schuyler Ave., Stamford. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Church, 37 Schuyler Ave., Stamford. Interment will be private.
For more information, please visit: www.lacerenzafuneralhome.comhttp://www.lacerenzafuneralhome.com
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