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and that also showed on the bench. He was a fair “Race, color, political ideology: none of it mat-
jurist not just to the parties in a given case, but to tered to Judge Squatrito. He made everyone feel as
everybody who’d likely be affected by his decision.” if they were his best friend. To watch him relate to
Thompson said, “Dom cared about humanity and people was magical. I witnessed him befriend taxi
people,” and pointed to one occasion that illustrated drivers in an instant, exchange hugs with janitors
that. and food service workers whom
It was the first time Squatrito he had just met, and engage in
had been to Thompson’s house in motivational dialogue with hard-
1994 and the two were headed to a Dominic Squatrito, ened criminals who soaked up
judicial conference in New York; every genuine word,” said Bizzar-
Squatrito went to Thompson’s a federal judge in ro of GB Law Group.
house for the ride. Bizzarro continued: “If every-
Connecticut, died at age
“He pulled up to the driveway 82. He was remembered as one lived their lives with just a
and said he wanted to meet my a caring friend, judge and fraction of the respect that Judge
wife and three kids, who were lit- Squatrito showed to people of all
mentor to many.

tle at the time. I just couldn’t stop walks of life, harmony would rule
him from going to the door; he in- the day.”
sisted. He gave my wife, who he’d Said former law clerk Neil
never met, a big hug. He also had candy for my kids. Parille, now an assistant attorney general in Con-
I don’t mean a few pieces of candy: He had a plastic necticut: “He never forgot where he came from. He
bag of candy for each one of them. Ever since, my was always willing to share and give advice to his
children would ask how the candy judge was do- law clerks about life and future employment. He
ing,” Thompson said. was interested in you.”
Attorney and New Britain state Sen. Gennaro Bi- ¦

zzarro once clerked for Squatrito, and like many of Robert Storace covers legal trends, lawsuits and
those clerks, kept in touch with him over the years. analysis for the Connecticut Law Tribune. Follow
Bizzarro said Squatrito’s connection with people him on Twitter @RobertSCTLaw or reach him at
was special to watch. 203-437-5950.

CONNECTICUT
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