Crime & Safety

Colleagues, Friends Remember Late Furniture Restorer

Gary LaStoria called a quiet man, master craftsman and vintage auto buff.

He was a true craftsman, a quiet man, antique automobile buff and a good son. Those were some of the attributes local business owners used to describe Gary LaStoria, the late owner of a furniture restoration business on Colonial Road.

LaStoria was found deceased at his business, , Wednesday night after police performed a well-being check at the request of the family. Police are investigating the death but do not suspect foul play.

Thursday morning, local businessmen who knew him were struggling with the news.

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“He was the greatest guy,” said Greg Obrizzo, owner of Farmington Valley Auto Body, a neighboring business.

Obrizzo and other area businessmen said LaStoria was a master of his craft.

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“He did wonderful work,” said Peter Brink, owner of Valley Imported Auto, another nearby business where LaStoria brought his business van for service.

Brink and Obrizzo both brought furniture to LaStoria and those in the furniture business agreed he was a quality craftsman who specialized in restoring vintage pieces.

Chris Repp, a furniture restorer and builder who runs G. David’s & Sons in Collinsville, said he often referred work to LaStoria, especially larger projects.

“He did a good job,” Repp said.

Larry Stewart, a Collinsville-based cabinetmaker, said LaStoria’s work was seamless, even when crafting replacement parts for a repair.

“You couldn’t even tell it had been repaired,” Stewart said of the pieces LaStoria worked on.

Besides furniture, LaStoria was passionate about vintage cars.

Obrizzo’s shop restored a 1962 corvette for LaStoria, who could often be found at a Torrington Dunkin’ Donuts with other car buffs, friends said.

Most said LaStoria was generally quiet but was also a model airplane enthusiast with a large collection, said Obrizzo, who knew the later furniture restorer for about 30 years.

Repp said he also loved old things and sometimes frequented the Canton Auction Barn.

According to the business website, the Strip Joint started in 1973.

Longtime Canton resident Julius Fialkiewicz said it was originally run by Kent Tower.

LaStoria and Donald Dozier bought the business in 1979, according to Hartford Courant archives containing Dozier’s obituary from October of 1997.

And while a cause of death has not been determined, LaStoria went tragically Wednesday.

And when he didn’t follow his normal routine, those close to him knew something was wrong. Police and others said he checked on his mother every day after he got home from work around 5:30 p.m. When he didn’t call her and failed to answer his cell, home or work phone, the family knew something was wrong, police said.  

Thursday his friends and colleagues were still having a tough time with the news.

“I’m in shock,” Repp said.


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