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WESTPORT, Conn. - C. Lawrence Tirreno, a longtime Westport resident who owned many car dealerships in town, died Sunday, March 3. He was 92.
Tirreno was born in Reggio Calabria, Italy, and immigrated to the United States when he was 6 years old. He was raised in Bridgeport and moved to Westport in 1963. Tirreno sailed as an officer in the Merchant Marines throughout World War II in both the Atlantic and Pacific Theaters. On return, he served on the Bridgeport Fire Department for 14 years.
A self-made businessman, Tirreno opened the first Volvo dealership in the United States in 1958 and went on to expand his dealership to Buick and Honda agencies. He owned the Honda of Westport for more than 40 years.
Tirreno is survived by his wife; his sons, Robert of Fairfield and Lawrence (Mary) of Westport; and five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
There are no calling hours. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 9, at St. Luke Church in Westport. Interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Tirreno’s memory to the Jimmy Bacik-Galpin Fund, 370 Mine Hill Road, Fairfield, CT 06824.
Shaughnessey Banks Funeral Home, 50 Reef Road in Fairfield Center is in charge of the arrangements.
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