Steven Joseph DeLuzio of South Glastonbury, CT, graduated Glastonbury High School in Conneticut in 2003. (Photos courtesy of Scott DeLuzio via SGT Steven DeLuzio website.)
"He was riding a bike at 3 years, 3 months, with no training wheels - which is crazy. The funny part about it was, he was still in diapers." Mark DeLuzio, father.
In High School, he played 4 years of Varsity Hockey, served 1 year on the Student Council, was Class President his freshman year, and was a Big Brother for 2 years.
In 2004, he transferred from Hofstra University to Norwich University, entered the ROTC program and joined the Vermont National Guard. His goal was to succeed his father in his business. He was engaged to Leeza Gutt, his high school sweetheart.
In 2005, he graduated from Infantry School at Fort Benning, GA and deployed to Ramadi, Iraq in 2006, where he earned the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Navy Unit Citation.
After returning from Iraq, he continued his education and graduated Cum Laude from the University of Hartford, in Conneticut, in 2009, with a degree in accounting. He was hired by Haggett & Longobardi, which has become JH Colin.
He was a NY Yankees fan, a Boston Bruins fan, played golf, pick-up football & baseball, and coached & umpired Little League in Glastonbury. He had played the old course at St Andrews in Scotland.
"I feel privileged. It was very special to have him be our coach." Alice Anderson, the mother of one of his players.
DeLuzio was "the ultimate teammate." Ken Barse, hockey coach, Glastonbury High School.
"Any talent that he lacked, he made up for it with perserverance and tenacity." Alex Rodriguez," hockey coah, Glastonbury High School, 2003.
He was assigned to the A Company, 172nd Infantry, 86th Infantry Brigade of Jericho, VT, Vermont National Guard.
"My brother was a great guy — he cared about everything around him. Everything around him came first — family, and country." "He was a best friend. He was more than just a brother. He was all you can ask for in a friend." SGT Scott DeLuzio, brother, Connecticut National Guard.
"He always took the most dangerous assignments. He could have come home, but he re-upped because he didn't want to leave the guys under his command." Mark DeLuzio, father.
Steven DeLuzio re-enlisted to be deployed to Afghanistan in March 2010, where he earned the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Army Good Conduct Medal, and the NATO Ribbon.
His Awards and Decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Combat Infantryman's Badge, Purple Heart, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and Army Service Ribbon.
A barracks at Bagram Air Field in Afghanistan has been dedicated to SSG Steven DeLuzio. SGT DeLuzio was recommended for posthumous promotion to Staff Sergeant/E-6.
His service, attended by Sen Lieberman and Gov Rell, with Military Honors and Patriot Guard Escort, was held at St Paul's Catholic Church in Glastonbury and he was laid to rest at Holy Cross Cemetery on Aug 30, 2010.
He is survived by mother Diane Lysik DeLuzio, father Mark C. DeLuzio, brother Scott DeLuzio & wife Victoria, nephew Adam DeLuzio, grandfather Joseph Lysik, and fiance Leeza Gutt.
The DeLuzio Family has written a book about the life of Steven DeLuzio and established a scholarship fund in his name.