Florencio “Baby” Cotto, 56, of Hamden passed away July 30, 2017 at Yale New Haven Hospital with his family and friends by his side. Born in Hartford on March 8, 1961, he was the son of the late Luis and Julia Velasquez Cotto. Mr. Cotto was appointed to the New Haven Fire Dept. in 1995 and served as a firefighter for 13 years where he was affectionately known as “Cheese”. He loved to cook for family and friends and took joy in bringing everyone together. He had a great sense of humor and was known as a jokester who loved to make people laugh. He leaves to cherish his memory Crystal Hall Cotto, mother of his son,   Florencio  Cotto Jr., NHPD and Maribel Segui, mother of his youngest son,  Luis Segui;  three cherished brothers, Hector Cotto,  Sgt. Samuel Cotto, NHPD (ret.) and Reinaldo Cotto; two devoted sisters, Natividad Cotto and Nancy Cotto Bowles; several beloved aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and dear friends. He was predeceased by two brothers, Jose and Daniel Cotto, two sisters, Zoraida Vega and Elsie Rodriguez and a nephew, Joseph Bowles.

Funeral from the Celentano Funeral Home, 424 Elm St. (cor. Dwight) New Haven Friday morning at 9:15. Mass of Christian Burial in Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, 2819 Whitney Ave., Hamden at 10:00 am. Friends may call at the funeral home Thursday from 4 to 8 pm. Interment in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Hamden.