Gregory J. Piontek, 70, of North Haven passed away June 4, 2017 in Yale New Haven Hospital. He was the beloved husband of Sandra Asor Piontek. Mr. Piontek was born in New Haven April 24, 1946, son of the late Joseph F. Piontek Jr. and Leila Castles Piontek. He was a graduate of St. Aedan’s School, Hillhouse High School and Southern Connecticut State University where he earned both a bachelor of science and a master of science degree. In 1970, he went to work as a scientific technician, Dept. of Entomology  at the Connecticut Agriculture Experiment Station in New Haven. In 1974, he accepted a position as one of the first ever Environmental Analysts hired at the DEP. He worked in the Pesticide Program under Dr. Steven Hitchcock. He worked his way up becoming a Principal Environmental Analyst, and later, the Director of the Pesticide, PCB, and UST (Underground Storage Tank) Management Division, a position he held until 2001. After the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, he accepted another position at DEP as the Department’s Liaison for Weapons of Mass Destruction and Homeland Security, a position he held until his retirement April 1, 2003 after 33 years of dedicated service to the State of Connecticut. In the years since his retirement, he has been devoted and recognizable member of the staff at the Celentano Funeral Home.  He was an avid Red Sox fan and Notre Dame football fan. He was also a student of Civil War history and an electric train enthusiast. Besides his wife, he is survived by his devoted children, Christine (Patrick) Sullivan of Maine and Robert Piontek of Hamden; as well as his canine companion, his Beagle, Andy.

Friends may call at The Celentano Funeral Home, 424 Elm St. (cor. Dwight) New Haven Wednesday from 4 to 7 pm. and are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Stephen’s Church, 400 Ridge Road, Hamden Thursday morning at 11:00. Interment will be in St. Lawrence Cemetery, West Haven. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN. 38105-9956 or The Jimmy Fund, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Ave., Boston, MA 02215.