Daniel Oliveira Raposo

Daniel Oliveira Raposo II, 75, of East Windsor, Connecticut and Povoacao, Sao Miguel, Azores, passed away peacefully and in the arms of his family on November 9th, 2025, at Saint Francis Hospital in Hartford, Connecticut.

A service to celebrate his huge heart and huge life will take place at Saint John Church in Darien, Connecticut, on Saturday, November 15th at 1pm.

Daniel was born on February 15th, 1950, in Povoacao, a small seaside village on the southeast coast of Sao Miguel Island in the Azorean Atlantic. With his parents and three siblings, he emigrated to Queens, New York, at age sixteen, and immediately started (over)working to find his place in the business world. After trying his hand at a custom shoe factory, working with his brother Celso as part of the luggage team at JFK Airport, and dabbling in sales, he started his own construction company at age twenty.

A dreamer and builder, Dan built houses that were true homes across Connecticut for the next fifty years, while also maintaining multiple apartment complexes for the Stamford Housing Authority. Along the way, he created jobs for other hard-working immigrants, helping them realize their American dream and welcoming them into his life and heart. As he did so, he taught his children the value of dedication, determination, growth from failure, and faith.

With futbol in his Portuguese blood, Dan played on a recreational adult soccer team, founded and coached his son and friends on the Wilton Wolves, organized the massive Nutmeg soccer festival, and even built a small backyard court for company picnics and family gatherings. A favorite family memory includes seeing tears of pride in his eyes when Portugal won the 2016 Euro Cup.

Having a mouth almost as large as his heart, Dan will be remembered most for his generous, extravagant hospitality. With his former wife, Doris, he welcomed all into his home, offering love and safety within his walls. Several family members, friends, and friends of family stayed for months or even years. So, on top of their four children, many others found in Dan a fierce, grounded, guiding father figure.

Then, there were the epic parties! Summer clambakes featured a hundred lobsters steaming over an open fire while steaks sizzled, drinks poured, and volleyballs whizzed by. Formal New Year's Eve celebrations spilled over into rowdy bonfires, spicy Portuguese shrimp at the kitchen table, and breakfast for dozens of sleepy lingerers.

Whether in Connecticut, Vermont, Cabo San Lucas, or back home in the Azores, Dan was happiest when gathering those he loved for a meal, around a bonfire, in a hot tub, at a card table, or wherever there was a new adventure he could share.

Dan is preceded in death by his parents, Daniel and Armanda, and his siblings, Celso, A'gueda, and Orlando. His legacy of love lives on in his soulmate and life partner, Regina Zavaski; his children, Jessica Raposo Coleman (Matthew), Jacqueline Raposo, Daniel Raposo III, and Margaret Raposo; and his siblings Vidalia Santos (Paul) and Octavio Raposo (Khanh). He is also carried forward by the love of Regina's children, Rachel (Dan), Michael (Alexandra), and Steven, and the grandchildren who blessed his ears by calling him avo: Julianna, Noah, Theo, Anna, Eleanor, and Josie.

In his final weeks, Dan was moved by the care he received from staff at Saint Francis Hospital, especially the CICU nurses. He called them "angels" for their work and quoted his mother when telling them, "God will pay you." They also took tender care of his family, allowing love to overflow from his hospital room while he called dozens of loved ones to say a peaceful goodbye and welcomed many to sit by his side for a while.

And so, in lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made in his name to Saint Francis Foundation's "Nursing Education Fund", 95 Woodland St., 2nd Floor, Hartford, CT 06105 or online at https://giving.saintfrancisdonor.com/donate.

Friends and family are invited to a funeral service at Saint John Church in Darien, Connecticut, on Saturday, November 15th, at 1pm. All who attend will be invited to a gathering immediately following, to celebrate together with some of Dan's favorite things.