David J. Altieri

DAVID J. ALTIERI- CORRECTIONAL OFFICER/PREP COOK

FITCHBURG – David J. Altieri 60, passed away on March 1, 2023, surrounded by his loving and devoted family by his side, who he cherished dearly..  David was born in Fitchburg, Massachusetts on June 6, 1962 and was the beloved son of Mary (Greco) Altieri and the late Joseph Altieri, Jr.

David attended St. Anthony's School and graduated from Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical High School, Class of 1980, with a degree in Culinary Art's. While in high school he excelled in football and weight lifting, but food trades was his passion. He was a phenomenal cook, for there was nothing he couldn't whip up in a heart beat, that didn't taste good, for he also learned from the best, his Mother and Father! He would always make his fathers famous Altieri's Hillside Cafe's Pasta Fagiole in which people could not get enough of! While still in school, he relied on his culinary skills and worked as a Prep Cook at Leominster Hospital, Cormier Catering, and the Rendezvous Restaurant. After his retirement from the Prison, he continued his culinary skills and worked as Prep Cook at Il Forno, Cushing Academy, Gardner Rehab and Learned's Canteen Service. There were no recipes that he could not master, for Italian cooking was his specialty.

After graduation, David was hired as a Correctional Officer on his 21st birthday, and was employed for 33 years at NCCI Gardner Prison, retiring in 2016.  He was a member of the Tactical Team and it was there at the prison, that he developed very strong bonds with his Brotherhood of Fellow Officer's.

In his younger days he joined the Boy Scout's and enjoyed going on their camping trips, where he learned fishing and hunting skills. When his daughter Gianna became old enough, he would always enjoy taking her on deep sea fishing trips out to Newburyport and going for overnight camping trips. It was their total bonding time, which he cherished dearly. David loved all sports and being active. His favorite was when his parents bought him gym weights when he was in junior high, it was love at first site.  He put together his own little gym in the basement. He would workout every minute he had, and eventually joined several weight lifting gym's in the Fitchburg area, Sevigny's and the Fitchburg Weight Lifting Club, in which he built himself up into such great shape, that the gym's he went to, sponsored him to enter “all natural bodybuilding”competitions throughout New England, in which he would always come back with trophies. He was small in statue, but MIGHTY!! After his retirement he joined the Fitchburg Strength & Fitness Gym on Oak Hill Rd in Fitchburg, and found the best workout partner's anyone could ask for, saying by far, this is the best gym ever!

David found happiness when he would go for long motorcycle rides with his buddies or his daughter on his 2005 Harley Davidson Deluxe Soft Tail motorcycle, making stops to view beautiful sunsets or to eat at new places along the way. He also enjoyed going to Hampton Beach and going into Boston's North End every year for all the Italian Festival's with his family.  He was so proud of his Italian Sicilian Heritage! He had a deep love for animal's and was devoted to his dog's he had growing up, Lassie, his Blue Merle Collie, Ninja his German Shepherd, Christian his Short Hair Collie as well as various other animal's he would manage to talk his parent's into keeping, no matter what type of pet they were!

During the summer's you could always find him swimming in the family pool at his parent's house or mastering the grill for a cookout right after. The Christmas season was his favorite holiday, in which he loved the annual Christmas Eve gatherings at his cousin Kevin Cormier's house, in which catching up with cousins and friends was the highlight. On Christmas day he would spend it at this parent's house, in which he was like a little kid, wanting to hurry and open the presents first, before the meal. He always made sure that his mother was having homemade gnocchi's and lasagna on the menu, for that was his favorite food and he would always say, “Ma, you make the best in town!”.

David was a very fun loving, comical, warmhearted, kind person, who always had the biggest, and brightest smile on his face. He was given the nickname “Tootsie” when growing up with his neighborhood buddies, in which the name stuck with him.  He was the best father, son, brother, and uncle one could ask for. When those who needed a helping hand, David would be the first one to show up. His Italian family was his greatest passion, his source of pride and joy, and he cherished spending every minute with them. He will be deeply missed by all who had the pleasure of meeting him and those who loved him as well. “ GOD HAS YOU IN HIS ARMS, WE WILL FOREVER HAVE YOU IN OUR HEART'S “

He is survived by and will be forever missed and forever loved by his mother and sister Jo-Ann Altieri, who never left his side. His beautiful daughter Gianna, who is his heart and soul, in which he was so very proud of her, for he would always say that she was his “Little Guinea” for Life! He also leaves his nephew, Anthony Altieri and niece's Angela and Alexandria Altieri, as well as his companion Marie Chapman and her immediate family, who welcomed David into their family with open arms, and called him Papa Dave, and his former wife Roxanne Kennedy and her family, his many cousins who were all very close to each other, and an abundance of friendships and special bonds growing up, that he endured and cherished throughout his life, that he will never forget!

David was predeceased by his father Joseph Altieri, Jr in 1996 and his brother Joseph S. Altieri,III in 2021.

Please consider a donation in his daughter Gianna Altieri's name which can be left at the Funeral Home, in which a Trust Fund is being established for her at Worker’s Credit Union.  Family also requests that masks be worn while in the receiving line.

A Funeral Mass for David will be held on Saturday, March 25,2023 @ 11a.m. in St. Bernard Parish @ St. Camillus De Lellis Church, 333 Mechanic St. Fitchburg. Calling hours at the funeral home are on Friday, March 24,2023 from 5 until 7 p.m.

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