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Louis Auletta Sr.

Louis John “Lou” Auletta Sr., dedicated family patriarch and Connecticut business leader, passed away peacefully at the Connecticut Hospice in Branford, on April 4, 2024. Born Oct. 3, 1938, in Torrington, he was a great man, a true gentleman, who emanated respect, kindness, and consideration for everyone he met.

Lou was a true role model, and his devotion to his family was amazing. He leaves his loving wife Barbara, with whom he shared the bond of marriage for 64 years; his son Lou Auletta Jr. and his wife Christine; his daughter Lori Auletta; his daughter Tara Spadola and her husband Carl; his son Mark Auletta and his wife Shelby; grandchildren: Kate Ryan and her husband Patrick, Michael Auletta, Chloe Rosenfeld and her husband Sam, Olivia Spadola, Megan Auletta and her fiancé Jay Palais, Matthew Spadola, Sarah Auletta, Benjamin Auletta, Addison Auletta, and Andrew Auletta; and great-grandchildren, Lily Ryan, Parker Ryan, and Hannah Rosenfeld.

Lou joined Chandler Evans in West Hartford as a test engineer after graduating from the University of Hartford’s Ward School of Electronics in 1960. Having become enchanted with aviation, Lou moved to Bauer Aerospace in 1974 as chief engineer and began a journey that would establish Bauer as the Auletta family business after his acquisition of the Farmington (now Bristol) based company in 1983. Lou was a highly successful entrepreneur as he grew the company’s test equipment business by expanding into global markets. Over the course of his Bauer career, he personally visited and conducted business in more than 75 countries. Even after his “retirement,” Lou would remain involved as a “salesman” and, right up to his passing, wanted to get a daily update on the happenings at Bauer. In addition to his role in private business, Lou was a very active community business leader in promoting and developing international trade for small business in Connecticut. Lou earned great recognition for his leadership, among them the Connecticut International Trade Council Distinguished Service Award after serving as Chairman, the Connecticut World Trade Association Business Leader of the Year Award, and the International Business Leader of the Year Award from MetroHartford Chamber of Commerce, among others. He was also appointed Honorary Consul General of Japan in New England. Lou enjoyed golf with family and friends throughout his life, and he loved his garden, always eager to show his latest crop. He was a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and Sons of Italy.

A memorial service was on April 6 at St. Mary Church of the Visitation, 54 Grove Street, Clinton. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Lou’s memory to the American Diabetes Association, 2451 Crystal Drive, Suite 900, Arlington, VA 22202, or diabetes.org.