United States High School Yearbooks by County
Arthur E. Somma
Worked as a toolsetter
WATERBURY Mr. Arthur E. Somma, age 87, of Chipman Street Extension, passed away on Monday, July 27, 2009, at Waterbury Hospital. He was the husband of May (Giannini) Somma.
Mr. Somma was born on May 25, 1922, in Waterbury, a son of the late Robert and Anna (Membrino) Somma. He was a World War II Navy veteran, and worked as a toolsetter for Scovill Manufacturing, and later Century Brass, for more than 30 years. Arthur lived a very active lifestyle and was an avid golfer.
In addition to his wife, May, Arthur leaves his son, Arthur J. Somma and his wife, Laura, of Waterbury; his daughters, Claudia DiLegge and her husband, Billy, of Litchfield, and Donna Somma of Waterbury; and his sister, Loretta Rinaldi and her husband, Bill, of Waterbury. He also leaves five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; his former wife, Viola (Albino) (Somma) Sharkis; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his son, Ralph Somma, and his brothers, Robert Somma and Ralph Somma.
Family and friends may call at the funeral home on Wednesday evening, July 29, 2009, from 5 to 7 p.m. with a service beginning at 7 p.m. Funeral and burial are private.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Boy Scouts of America, Pack No. 218, c/o St. Peter and Paul Church, 67 Southmayd Road, Waterbury, CT 06705.
Brandon D. Frank Sr.
Owned city barbershops
WATERBURY - Brandon D. Frank Sr., 31, died Aug. 1, 2009, at his home after a long illness. He was the husband of Kesly Frank.
Mr. Frank was born Aug. 1, 1978, in Waterbury, a son of Nana Frank of Waterbury and the late Wayne Copeland. Brandon attended Waterbury elementary schools and graduated from Wilby High School. He was a local entrepreneur owning and operating two barbershops and a social club. All who knew him will truly miss his outgoing, kind and caring personality.
Besides his wife, Kesly, he leaves three sons, Brandon D. Frank Jr. and Braydon Frank, both of Puerto Rico, and Jay Frank of Waterbury, and a host of relatives and friends.
Funeral will be noon Friday at Chapel Memorial Funeral Home, 35-37 Grove St. Burial will be in All Saints Cemetery. Calling hour will be 10 a.m. Friday at the funeral home. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 11:30 a.m. until the time of service.
Norman A. Bournival Sr.
Owned Norm's Barber Shop
CHESHIRE - Norman A. Bournival Sr., 69, of Wallingford Road, passed away on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2009, at the Mid-State Medical Center with his family by his side. He was the husband of Jill (Hoden) Bournival.
Norman was born in Waterbury, Conn., on Oct. 5, 1939, and was the son of the late Arthur and Mederise (Lamy) Bournival. He was the owner of Norm's Barber Shop in Cheshire for the past 49 years. Norman was also a member of the First Bible Baptist Church in Plainville.
Besides his wife, Jill, Norman is survived by two sons, Norman A. and his wife, Mae Bournival Jr., of Wasilla, Alaska, David A. and his wife, Gladys Bournival, of Waterbury; two daughters, Michele A. and her husband, Richard Bernhardt, of Cheshire, and Robin M. and her husband, Curt Mitchell, of Morris, Conn.; and one sister, Lorraine and her husband, Roland Cyr, of Southington. He is also survived by 10 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and two nephews.
Arrangements: Funeral services will be held 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 10, at the Alderson Funeral Home of Cheshire, 615 South Main St. Calling hours will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Monday prior to services. Burial will be private and at the convenience of the family.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contribution may be made to FBBC, 12 Granger Lane, Plainville, 06062.
Leo Thibodeau
Was rural mail carrier
WATERBURY - Mr. Leo Thibodeau, age 67, of Craigie Avenue, passed away on Monday, Aug. 10, 2009, at his home. He was the devoted husband of Joyce (Diogostine) Thibodeau.
Mr. Thibodeau was born on April 11, 1942, in Milan, N.H., a son of the late Armand Thibodeau and Lorinda Maggi. He was a proud veteran of the Vietnam War, where he served a short time of his tour as a POW. He worked as a rural mail carrier for the U.S. Postal Service for 25 years as well as Pratt and Whitney for more than 25 years.
Leo was an avid outdoorsman who loved fishing and camping with his wife and friends at Chi-Wi-Ma Campground. He enjoyed spending winters in Florida, and his greatest joy was his time spent with his grandchildren.
In addition to his loving wife, Joyce, Leo leaves his daughters, Karen DeVito and her husband, Robert, of Morgantown, W.Va., and Lori Lodge and her husband, Christopher J., of Terryville; his stepson, Joseph Diogostine and his wife, Desiree, of Meriden; and his two grandchildren, Christopher H. Lodge and Valerie DeVito. He also leaves his mother-in-law, Mary Piccolo; his three sisters, Patricia Hendren, Carol Rodriguez and Marilyn Barmer; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his stepdaughter, Deborah Diogostine.
The family would like to thank the VNA hospice team, Dr. Douglas Ross of St. Vincent Hospital in Bridgeport and Dr. Joseph Bowen at the Leever Cancer Center and their staffs for their outstanding care given and compassion shown to Leo and his family.
A funeral with full military honors will be held 9 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 13, 2009, at the Maiorano Funeral Home, 95 Willow St., Waterbury, to St. Anthony's Church, Prospect, for a Mass at 10 a.m. Entombment will follow in Calvary Garden Mausoleum. Family and friends may call on Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
James L. Farrar
Top swimming coach
NAPLES, Fla. - James L. Farrar, one of the most successful high school swimming coaches in U.S. history, died on Monday, Aug. 3, 2009, in Naples, Fla. He was 95 years old.
A native of Naugatuck, Conn., James Farrar had an accomplished swimming career before he even began coaching the sport. As a YMCA swimmer in Naugatuck, he was a state champion and captured the 1938 New Haven to Bridgeport Cross-Harbor Swim.
During World War II, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. Recognizing his talents, the Navy transferred him to Opa Locka, Fla., and appointed him to direct and teach the Hamilton course that taught water safety and survival swimming to pilots, air crews and PT boat crews. Among the 78, 000 men he trained was Lt. John F. Kennedy. Honorably discharged in 1945, at the rank of chief specialist-athletics, he received a letter of commendation from the Secretary of the Navy acknowledging his contributions to our nation.
Coach Farrar returned to Connecticut to begin what would become one of the most distinguished and accomplished coaching careers in American swimming history. In 1948, he started a boys swimming team at Sacred Heart High School in Waterbury, Conn. Despite a limited enrollment, no pool and a limited budget, he guided his teams to a 178-23 record with seven undefeated seasons, 70 straight dual-meet wins, two New England championships, nine city championships, and seven state championships, including five Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference state titles.
After 15 years at Sacred Heart, Coach Farrar went on to coach another 12 years at Naugatuck High School, where he guided his teams to similar success, including a record of 119-30 with a state championship title in 1971 and one runner-up finish in 1972.
At the time of his retirement from coaching in 1976, Mr. Farrar had earned the most wins as a men's swim coach in the history of Connecticut high school sports. After retirement, Coach Farrar continued to be involved with swimming and was a certified swimming official and referee and became the vice president of the Connecticut Swimming Referees Association.
In 2005, the International Swimming Hall of Fame awarded Coach Farrar with one of their most prestigious honors, the Yutaka Terao Character in Coaching Award. He was the only person in the 40-year history of International Swimming Hall of Fame to be honored for a career spent exclusively as a high school coach. He was also honored by the National High School Swimming Coaches Association and inducted into the Connecticut High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Coach Farrar's legacy was more than about breaking records and winning awards. He was a lasting positive influence in the lives of all his swimmers, teaching them discipline, integrity and sportsmanship. He was once quoted as saying that he "just wanted to make sure that every one of my boys was going to have a successful life."
James Farrar was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He is survived by his beloved wife of 68 years, Helen Gargonia Farrar of Naples, Fla. He is also survived by his four children, Patricia Farrar Pawlak and her husband, Joseph, of Watertown, Conn., Sandra Farrar Reilly of Naples, Fla., Bette Farrar O'Reilly and her husband, Jay, of Wellesley, Mass., and James Farrar Jr. and his wife, Becky, of Uxbridge, Mass.; 11 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.
A private funeral service and Mass was held in Naples, Fla, for his family. A memorial Mass and service will be held at a later time in Connecticut.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the James and Helen Farrar Scholarship Fund at Sacred Heart High School, c/o Development Office, 142 South Elm St., Waterbury, CT 06706.
Constantine Della Pietra
Owned Waterbury pharmacy
RICHMOND, Va. - Mr. Constantine "Gus" Della Pietra, age 88, formerly of Glenbrook Avenue, Waterbury, Conn., passed away peacefully on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2009, at Retreat Hospital in Richmond, Va. He was the devoted husband of the late Raphaelena "Rae" (Morelli) Della Pietra for more than 57 years.
Mr. Della Pietra was born in Waterbury, a son of the late Stefano and Jennie (Alfieri) Della Pietra. He was a graduate of Crosby High School and received his pharmacy degree from the University of Connecticut. He owned Della Pietra Pharmacy on Highland Avenue for a number of years and was a member of the Waterbury and Connecticut Pharmaceutical Associations as well as a member of The Lions Club.
He is survived by his daughter, Jennifer Sica and her husband, Dr. Domenic Sica, of Richmond, Va. He leaves behind his grandsons, Michael Sica of Washington, D.C., Dr. Christopher Sica and his fiancé, Dr. Yunqing Li, of Harrisburg, Pa., and Stephen Sica of Richmond, Va. He is also survived by his brother, Stephen Della Pietra, sisters, Anna Della Pietra, and Dolores Sirica and her husband, Dr. Andrew Sirica, of Waterbury. He also leaves a sister-in-law, Mary Coviello of Waterbury, a brother-in-law, Stephen Morelli and his wife, Lorraine, of Watertown, and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother, Dr. Alfonso Della Pietra.
A funeral will be held 9 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 13, 2009, from Maiorano Funeral Home, 95 Willow St., to Our Lady of Lourdes Church for a Mass at 11 a.m. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery. Family and friends may call at the funeral home on Thursday morning from 9 to 10:30 a.m. A memorial Mass will be scheduled at a later date at St. Mary's Church in Richmond, Va.
