1961 Obituaries

The obituaries posted here are the ones the web site has found or been notified of. If you have an obituary of a classmate please send a copy to webmaster@maraquin.org so it may be published.

Patricia A.(Burke) Schrader of Plainville, wife of Richard Schrager, died on Monday November 3, 2003 at New Britain General Hospital. Born in New Britain the daughter of the late John and Helen Holzer Burke, she lived in Plainville since 1978. Pat was a graduate of St Thomas Aquinas High School, Class of 1961 and worked in the Seafood Department at Big Y in Plainville for the past 10 years. She formerly worked at Finast in New Britain and Gnazzo's in Plainville. Besides her loving husband, Richard, she leaves a beloved son, James Schrager and his wife Donna of Bristol; two devoted sisters Kathy Abraham and her husband Mark of Kensington, and Elaine Fluke of New Britain; two cherished grandchildren, Amelia and Evan Schrager and several nieces and nephews. Patty had a real zest for life and love of conversation. She will be greatly missed by her family, friends and cats. Funeral services are Thursday at 9:15 at Carlson Funeral Home, 45 Franklin Square New Britain, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at St Joseph's Church, New Britain. Burial well be in West Cemetery, Plainville. Calling hours are today from 5 to 8 p.m. at Carlson Funeral Home. Donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 38 Preston Ave. Meriden, CT 06450. Please share a memory of Patty with her family in our online guestbook at www.carlsonfuneralhome.com

Frank J. Romeo, Jr., of Newington died Thursday, (November 17, 2005) at his home surrounded by his loving family. Born in New Britain, son of the late Frank J. Romeo, Sr. and Rose (D'Onofrio) Romeo, he lived in Newington for many years and was a member of Church of the Holy Spirit. He was a graduate of St. Thomas Aquinas, Wilbraham Academy, and St. Francis College in 1966. Frank was president of Atlas Machine Tool and Die for 20 years and owned various restaurants. He was a member of Indian Hill Country Club, served as vice president and treasurer of many committees and was named Man of the Year in 1983. He was on the Board of Directors and was a coach of Newington Little League Baseball, Newington Midget Football, and Newington Parks & Rec. Basketball. Frank was chairman of the Newington Development Commission and helped to develop the Newington Industrial Park and Budney Industrial Park. He was a charter member of the Newington Chapter of UNICO and was chairman of the American Heart Assoc. Frank was an original investor in Ruth Chris Steakhouse and was an incorporator of Connecticut Valley Bank. He leaves his two sons, Frank J. Romeo, III, Esq. and his wife, Ortenzia, Esq. of Rocky Hill, Marc C. Romeo, of Hollywood, CA; his daughter, Robin Bradley and her husband, Dana, of Charlotte, NC; his former wife, Brenda, of Charlotte, NC; his three grandchildren, Frank J. Romeo, IV, Nicholas D. Romeo and Ava Romeo; his sister, Margaret Romeo, of Newington; his niece, Heather Blair and her husband, John; his great niece and great nephew, John Matthew Blair and Rose Blair. Frank's funeral services will be held Monday 9 a.m. from the Newington Memorial Funeral Home, 20 Bonair Ave., Newington, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial, 10 a.m. at Church of the Holy Spirit, Newington. Interment will be in West Meadow Cemetery, Newington. Relatives and friends are invited to call Sunday from 4 - 8 p.m. at Newington Memorial. Memorial donations may be made to Indian Hill Country Club Caddy Scholarship Fund, 111 Golf St., Newington, CT 06111. To share a memory with the family, please visit us at www.newingtonmemorial.com

Rev. Robert M. Grace, 61, Parochial Vicar of St. Thomas Church in Thomaston, died suddenly Sunday, (October 9, 2005) at St. Thomas Rectory. Father Grace was born December 25, 1943 in New Britain, son of the late Robert M. and Marian E. (Gaffey) Grace. He attended public schools in New Britain through the sixth grade. He then attended St. Maurice Junior High and St. Thomas Aquinas High School. He studied for two years at St. Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield and then went to the Seminary of St. Bernard in Rochester, NY, where he received his Bachelor's Degree in Philosophy and Master's Degree in Theology. Father was ordained as a deacon in April of 1968 by Bishop Fulton J. Sheen and the next year was ordained as a priest at St. Joseph Cathedral in Hartford by Archbishop Whealon, which was the late Archbishops very first ordination as Archbishop. Father's first assignment was as Assistant Pastor at St. Ann's Church in Avon from 1969- 1976, while also teaching 11th and 12th grades at Northwest Catholic High School from 1968- 1976. From 1976 through 1987 he was Pastor at St. Michael's Church in Hartford and from 1988 through 1991 was Co-Pastor at St. Mary's Church in Windsor Locks, he had served as Parochial Vicar at St. Peter's Church in Torrington and was Pastor of St. Bernard's Church in Enfield from 1992-1995. Father Grace is survived by three sisters, Mary Ann Gunning of Plainville, Katherine Tullai of New Britain and Sheila Grace McKinney of Maine and five nephews and nieces, John Gunning of West Granby, Elizabeth Bennett of Michigan, Matthew Tullai of Illinois, Benjamin McKinney and James McKinney, both of Maine. Arrangements: A mass of Christian burial will be held Friday at 11 a.m. at St. Maurice Church in New Britain, with the Most Reverend Henry J. Mansell, D.D., Archbishop of Hartford officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, New Britain. Father Grace will lay in state at St. Thomas Church, Thomaston, on Thursday from 3-7 p.m. with a parish mass at 7 p.m. for him. Arrangements are by the Lyons Funeral Home, 46 High St., Thomaston.

Darleen A. (Danko) Taradeina, 61, of New Britain died unexpectedly at home Saturday (December 4, 2004). She was the beloved wife of Robert S. Taradeina for 34 years. Born in New Britain, daughter of Mary Danko of Newington and the late Francis Danko, she was a life long city resident. Darleen was employed as a legal secretary in the New Britain area for many years. Besides her husband and mother, she was a loving mother to her son, Toby R. Taradeina of Kensington; two daughters, Alicia A. Taradeina of Warwick, RI, Beckwith R. Kelly and her husband, Kevin of East Hampton; and a loving grandmother to her two grandsons, Sean and Anthony Vann. She also leaves a brother, Gary Danko in Massachusetts; and her sister, Francine Fotopoulos of Tampa, FL. Calling hours will be held on Tuesday, December 7, from 4-8 p.m. at Burritt Hill Funeral Home, 332 Burritt St., New Britain. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, December 8, 9 a.m. from Burritt Hill, followed by a Funeral Liturgy, 10 a.m., at Holy Trinity Church. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Holy Trinity Church, 121 Beaver St., New Britain, CT 06051-1003. To share memory with the family visit us at www.burritthill.com.

Salvatore R. "Sal" Mangiafico, 61, of Newington, beloved husband for 41 years of Jenny (Rinaldi) Mangiafico, died Sunday, (December 5, 2004) at Hartford Hospital after a long courageous battle with cancer with his family at his side. He was born in New Britain, son of the late Sebastian and Mary (Lucco) Mangiafico and had lived in Newington for over 40 years. Sal worked for Fafnir Bearing Company for 32 years. He more recently worked for CCSU in the Athletic Dept. for ten years. He was a communicant of St. Mary Church in Newington, a former member of the Newington Mustangs and Newington friends of football. Besides his wife; he is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Sebastian and Kristan Mangiafico and their son, Dominic of Stafford Springs; his daughter, Lisa M. Mangiafico of East Hartford and her boyfriend, Gary Clark of Wethersfield; his sister, Annette Trigila and her husband, Paul of Newington; several nieces; nephews; and many friends. Sal was an avid fisherman, he loved his family and his Harley Davidson, but most of all he enjoyed spending time with his grandson, Dominic. The funeral will be Tuesday, December 7, 9:15 a.m. from The Dillon-Baxter Funeral Home, 1276 Berlin Tpke., Wethersfield, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial, 10 a.m. in St. Mary Church, 626 Willard Ave., Newington. Burial will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Hartford. Friends may call TODAY, 4-8 p.m. at The Dillon-Baxter Funeral Home. Contributions in his memory may be made to: The American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 1004, Meriden, CT 06450-1004.

John O. "The Tinman" McGauley, 62, of East Hartford died Tuesday, (August 31, 2004) at Hartford Hospital. Born in Hartford, the son of the late George and Ellen (O'Leary) McGauley he had lived in East Hartford for many years. He was formerly employed at First Federal Savings in East Hartford. He was past Exalted Ruler of the East Hartford Lodge of Elks and an avid UCONN Huskies fan and bowler. John is survived by his wife Patricia Barenbaum, his daughter Laura Shriel and her husband Timothy Jr. of East Hartford, his grandson Brandon Appicelli, his brother George McGauley and his wife Joan of West Hartford, his sister Ellenmary Richards and her husband Larry of Berlin, his nieces and nephews Mark McGauley, Suzanne Vide, Faith Whitman, Jeffrey Richards and Gregory Richards, his daughter-in-law Ramona Appicelli, his dog Annie and cat Kato. He was also predeceased by his Father-in-law Paul Appicelli. Funeral services will be held on Friday, September 3, at 9:15 a.m. from the John F. Tierney Funeral Home with a Mass of Resurrection at 10 a.m. at St. Rose Church East Hartford, followed by burial in Mt. St. Benedict Cemetery. Family and friends may call at the funeral home on Thursday from 5-8 p.m. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association 2550 US Highway 1, North Brunswick, NJ 08902-4301. Published in the Hartford Courant on 9/1/2004.

Antoinette "Toni" Vita Giardino, 60, passed on to eternal life on Thursday, (May 27, 2004) at her home in Asheville, NC. The daughter of Carmin and Antoinette Giardino, she was born in New Britain and lived life fully in Asheville for the past three years. She was most recently employed by Community Family Practice of Asheville as a medical transcriptionist. She graduated from Emmanuel College in Boston with a degree in Fine Arts, and lived in various parts of the country before settling in Asheville. Toni enjoyed all of the arts and was an accomplished artist with much of her work done in pen and ink. Toni was also an avid gardener and loved to cook. She is survived by her son, Daniel Callaghan of Asheville; three sisters, Roxanne Rutledge of Atlanta, Theresa Green of Brooksville, ME, and Charlene Giardino of New Britain; and a brother, Charles Giardino of Hebron. In lieu of flowers, donations made to Mountain Area Hospice would be greatly appreciated, P.O. Box 25338, Asheville, NC 28813. Asheville Area Alternative Funeral & Cremation Services is assisting the family.

Barbara Anne Byron, 60, of West Hartford died on Wednesday, (February 25, 2004) at Hartford Hospital. Born in Hartford, the daughter of the late Francis and Catherine (Ward) Byron, she had lived in Newington for many years and had lived in West Hartford for the past 17 years. She was a 1965 graduate of Central Connecticut State University. She was a third grade teacher in the East Hartford school system for 38 years, most recently teaching at Langford School and she was a former recipient of the East Hartford Teacher of the Year Award. Barbara was an avid book reader and was appreciated by many for her acts of kindness. She is survived by her sisters and brother-in-law, Mary E. Byron of Manchester, Eileen and Phil Bartles of New Port Richey, FL; a niece and a nephew; several aunts and cousins, and her best friend, Mary Ellen. She was also predeceased by her brother, Francis "Jim" Byron. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 28, at 9:15 a.m. from the John F. Tierney Funeral Home, 219 West Center Street, Manchester followed by a Mass of Resurrection at 10 a.m. at St. James Church Main St., Manchester, with burial in East Cemetery. Family and friends may call at the funeral home on Friday from 5-8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, Barbara's family requests memorial donations be made to the American Cancer Society, 538 Preston Ave., Meriden, CT 06450-1004. Published in the Hartford Courant on 2/25/2004.

Chester F. Kozlowski, 60, of New Britain, died Sunday, (September 28, 2003) after a long illness. He was a native and lifelong resident of New Britain, son of Chester C. and Sophie (Dobek) Kozlowski of New Britain. Chester attended local schools and was a graduate of Boston College and received his Masters from the University of Hartford. He was employed at Travelers Ins. Co. for 28 years. Besides his parents, he is survived by his devoted wife of 37 years, Mary-Ellen (Moylan) Kozlowski; his three loving children, Paul, Chris and Sara-Beth Kozlowski, all of New Britain; his brother, Thaddeus Kozlowski of New Britain; his sister, Claire Murphy of North Haven; brother-in-law, Thomas Murphy of North Haven; his nephews, Jarrett and Jesse Murphy; and his devoted dog and companion, Bailey. Funeral Services will be on Thursday, 8 a.m. from New Britain Memorial Sagarino Funeral Home, 444 Farmington Ave., New Britain, followed by the funeral liturgy, 9 a.m. at Holy Cross Church. Burial will be at Mount St. Benedict in Bloomfield. Calling hours will be on Wednesday, 5-8 p.m. at New Britain Memorial Sagarino Funeral Home, 444 Farmington Ave., New Brian, (exit 37 off I-84 take a right at the exit, 1 1/2 miles on your right). Please visit our on line memorial tribute at www.mem.com. Family would like to extend a special thank you to Jamie and Jose and all the staff at Haven Health Care of Wethersfield. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to American Brain Tumor Assoc., 2720 River Rd., Des Plaines, IL 60018. Published in the Hartford Courant on 9/30/2003.

Regina Bujnowski, 51, of New Britain, died Tuesday (Sept. 6, 1994) at Connecticut Hospice Inc., Branford. She is survived by three sons, Michael C. Wosilis of New Britain, Mark J. Wosilis of Suffield, and Joseph C. Wosilis of Plainville; and a brother, Michael A. Bujnowski of Southington. Funeral services and burial will be at the convenience of the family. Memorial donations may be made to the Newington Children's Hospital. Copyright 1994 The Hartford Courant Co.

Gloria L. Glaser, 51, of Aurora, Colo., a longtime executive assistant to the CEO of Woodward- Clyde Group, Inc., Denver, Colo., died June 21,1995 at Swedish Medical Center, Englewood, Colo. Ms. Glaser was born Dec. 22, 1943, in New Britain. She was graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas High School, New Britain, in 1961, and Becker Junior College, Worcester, Mass., in 1963. She is survived by her father, Louis Glaser; her brother, Rick Glaser; sister-in-law, Linda Glaser; two nephews, Matthew and Michael Glaser; and a niece, Melissa Glaser, all of Uncasville. Services were held in Denver, Colo. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Hospice Education Institute, 190 Westbrook Road, Essex 06426-1510, or Southwest Indian Foundation, Gallup, NM 87302-0001. Copyright 1995 The Hartford Courant Co.

Kathleen N. (McKeon) Guida, 54, of Columbia, died peacefully Monday (June 9, 1997) at UCONN Medical Center, Farmington. She was the beloved wife of Alexander S. Guida. Born in Hartford, daughter of Frances (Wilenski) McKeon, of Newington, and the late Norbert McKeon, Sr., Mrs. Guida was a Newington resident for many years before recently moving to Columbia. She graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas High School, New Britain, and the Hartford School of Hairdressing. She owned and operated March Hair, Rocky Hill and enjoyed aviation, gardening, crafts and scuba diving. A devoted mother, she leaves five children and their spouses, Michelle M. and her husband Peter Niesyn, of Portland, Andrea G. and her husband Andrew Sambrook, of Evanston, IL, Christopher A. and his wife Lynn Guida, of Milford, NH, Kimberley F. Guida, MD, of Tacoma, WA, First Lt. Spencer C. and his wife Andrea Guida, of Roseboro, NC; a granddaughter; her brother and two sisters, Norbert McKeon, Jr., Maureen Montaufry, JoAnne and her husband, John Annino, all of Newington; several nieces and nephews. Mrs. Guida was pre-deceased by her brother, Michael J. McKeon. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial, Thursday, 10 a.m. at Church of the Holy Spirit, 183 Church St., Newington. Interment will be in West Meadow Cemetery, Newington. Calling hours will be today, 5-9 p.m. at Newington Memorial Funeral Home, 20 Bonair Ave., Newington. Memorial donations may be made to UCONN Bone Marrow Transplant Research Fund, 263 Farmington Ave., Farmington, 06032. Copyright 1997 The Hartford Courant Co.

Raymond F. Grogan, Jr., 55, of Elton Drive, Newington, died peacefully on his birthday, Monday (Nov. 30, 1998) at St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center, surrounded by family and friends who loved him. He was born in Hartford, and is survived by his loving wife, Jane (Roberts) Grogan; and three children, Bryan of Newington, and Colleen and Raymond III, both of Berlin. He is also survived by his parents, Raymond F. and Virginia L. (Dziob) Grogan of Newington; a brother and his wife, Robert C. and E. Patricia Grogan of Framingham, MA; a sister, Marabeth E. Grogan of Newington; three nephews, William H. Grogan of Ashland, MA, Eric Fairchild of Agawam, MA and Sean Grogan of Boston, MA; a niece, Amy Fairchild of Durham, NH and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. Ray graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas High School, New Britain, and the University of Hartford with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He was co-proprietor, Treasurer and Secretary of the Winsted Centerless Grinding Co. of Winsted for the past nine years. Prior to establishing his own business, he was employed as a mechanical engineer for several local firms. He began his career at the fomer Royal Typewriter Corp. of Hartford and spent two years in Hull, England in the set-up of a manufacturing assembly operation. For many years, Ray had been an avid member of the American Radio Relay League, operating under the call letters N1FNN and was a member of the Connecticut 100 Club. ''We often go through strange, but temporary detours that provide us with new thoughts and learnings in life. May the four winds bring you safely home again.'' (Amy Fairchild '98). The funeral will be Thursday, 10:45 a.m., from the Newington Memorial Funeral Home, 20 Boniar Ave., Newington, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial, 11:30 a.m., at St. Mary's Church, Newington. Interment will be in West Meadow Cemetery, Newington. Friends may call at Newington Memorial Today, 4- 8 p.m. Memorial donations may be madeto St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center Hospice, 114 Woodland St., Hartford 06105 or The Newington Volunteer Ambulance Assoc., 71 John Stewart Dr., Newington 06111. The funeral arrangements are in the care of the Fisette-Batzner Funeral Home. Copyright 1998 The Hartford Courant Co.

Pfc. John M. Grasso Jr., 22, died Saturday, Nov 27, 1965, as a result of
hostile action in the Republic of South Viet Nam.  John was the first
serviceman from New Britain to die in the Vietnam conflict.

Pfc. Grasso entered the U.S. Army on Dec. 7, 1964.  After completing basic
and advanced individual training, he was deployed to the Republic of South
Vietnam and assigned to MACV Advisory Team 70.

At the time of his death, Pfc. Grasso and six other American soldiers were
attached to the 7th ARVN Infantry Regiment, conducting combat operations in
the vicinity of the Michelin Rubber Plantation, about 45 miles northwest of
Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City).  At that time, the plantation was a hotbed of
Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army activity.  The 7th ARVN Regiment had
been in contact with elements of the 272nd Viet Cong Regiment for several
days.  The Viet Cong made their main attack early in the morning on November
27.  The fighting was intense.  Trying desperately to fight off hordes of
Communist soldiers charging in waves through the rubber trees, the ARVN
soldiers and their American advisors fought to the last bullet.  After
running out of ammunition, they were quickly overrun by the Viet Cong.  By 8
AM that morning, Pfc. Grasso, the six other members of the American advisory
team, and all of the Vietnamese soldiers of the 7th ARVN Regiment, had been
killed.

Pfc. Grasso's parents received a telegram on Nov 28 from the Adjutant
General's office in Washington, DC advising them of their son's death.
Survivors include his parents, John and Mary (Mortelliti) Grasso Sr., of 163
Fairview St., New Britain; two sisters, Elaine and Carol, also of 163
Fairview St.; his paternal grandparents, Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Grasso of 137
Washington St.; and several uncles and aunts.

Pfc. Grasso attended Chamberlain School and was a 1961 graduate of St.
Thomas Aquinas High School.  In 1964, he graduated from the New England
Technical School, Hartford, as an electronic technician.  He was also a
member of St. Ann Church.  

His body arrived at Bradley Field, Windsor Lock at 11:00 PM on December 8
accompanied by Sgt. Carlin Seward, of the Oakland Army Terminal Escort
Detachment They were met by the Grasso family, accompanied by Mayor Paul J.
Manafort, Aldermen Jack A. Fusari and Theodore L. Fusaro and representatives
of the Veterans Commission (Chairman Anthony J. Paige, Commissioners Joseph
L. Borselle, Joseph M. O'Brien, William C. Wearne, Newman G. Provost and
Richard A. Casella) and Veterans Service Director Michael J. Scricca.  Also
in attendance at the airport was an honor guard from the 418th Regiment,
76th Division, U.S. Army Reserve.

A State Police escort was provided from the airport to the New Britain town
line, where the procession was joined by New Britain police, who escorted
them to the funeral home.
Major Manafort ordered that flags on Municipal buildings be flown at
half-staff, and requested that all other flags in the city be flown at
half-staff.

Funeral services were held on December 10 at 8:00 AM at the Donald D.
Sagarino Funeral Home and at 9:00AM at St. Ann Church.  Burial with full
military honors was in St. Mary Cemetery.  Celebrant of the requiem Mass was
the Reverend Vincent Mortelliti of St. Donato Church, New Haven, a cousin of
Pfc. Grasso.  Approximately 200 pupils of St. Ann School attended the
requiem Mass.  Sgt. Seward, who accompanied the body from California and
throughout the local services, presented the American flag to the Grasso
family.  Mayor Paul J. Manafort and Alderman Theodore L. Fusaro were among
many city officials present.

Vietnam War Memorial, Washington DC  - Panel 03E - - Line 115

PFC - E3 - Army - Selective Service
MACV Advisors
22 year old Single, Caucasian, Male
Born on Jul 01, 1943
From NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT
His tour of duty began on May 26, 1965
Casualty was on Nov 27, 1965
SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
GUN, SMALL ARMS FIRE
Body was recovered
Religion
ROMAN CATHOLIC

C H
GREET THEM EVER WITH GRATEFUL HEARTS. TIME WILL NOT DIM THE GLORY OF THEIR DEEDS.
Saturday, November 13, 2004

Sgt Maj, brother in arms
With the going down of the sun, we will remember them.
Monday, April 04, 2005