United States High School Yearbooks by County
Dr. Pasquale Varanelli
Waterbury dentist
WATERBURY - Dr. Pasquale Varanelli, DDS, 86, died Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2011, at home with family at his side. He was born in Waterbury May 12, 1924, son of the late Michael Varanelli and Lucia (Lena) (Massimo) Varanelli.
Dr. P.A. Varanelli, a Waterbury native, received his undergraduate education at Niagara University and his dental degree from the University of Maryland. He was a member of the American Dental and Connecticut State Dental associations as well as a fellow of the American Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Through the years, Dr. Varanelli has been quite active in the dental community. He was a past president of the Dental Society of Greater Waterbury, a member of the house of delegates of the Connecticut State Dental Association, and has been on attending staff at Waterbury and Saint Mary's hospitals. He also has served as chief of dentistry at both institutions.
His role in the community has gone beyond his involvement with dentistry. Dr. Varanelli has been on the Governor's Task Force for the Handicapped, a member of the Waterbury Board of Health and Catholic School Board of the Archdiocese of Hartford, and an active member of the Rotary Club of Naugatuck.
Dr. Varanelli was a pilot during World War II serving in both the European and China-Burma India theatres. He flew bombers in the European Theatre, and finished his military career by completing 50 missions flying transport planes over the hump in the China-Burma India theatres. After retiring at the age of 75, he enjoyed gardening, and being an alter boy and a Eucharist minister.
Mrs. Kathryn L. Smilo
Cheshire school teacher
NAUGATUCK - Mrs. Kathryn L. (West) Smilo, 72, passed away Thursday, Feb. 17, 2011, at Hartford Hospital. She was the loving wife of Alan Richard Smilo.
Mrs. Smilo was born in Concord, N.H., Sept. 10, 1938, a daughter of the late Adah (Stevens) and Herbert West of Chichester, N.H. She was a graduate of Keene State Teachers College and the University of Connecticut, majoring in elementary education (English and social studies). She taught in New Hampshire until moving to Waterbury in 1970 when she went to work for the Cheshire school system.
She was a member of the New Hampshire Grange, as was the rest of her family. She was retired from teaching in 1980 to raise her family. She returned later to teaching as a substitute in the Cheshire school system.
She was an active member of the Congregational Church of Naugatuck and of N.E.O.N. (Naugatuck Ecumenical Outreach Network).
John P. Shugrue
Died Feb. 11
WATERBURY - John P. Shugrue, 60, entered into rest on Feb. 11, 2011, at his home on Hillside Avenue.
John was the son of the late John and Mary Shugrue. His three brothers, Myles, James and Louis DuBay, and a sister, Elizabeth Dominy, survive him. He was the former husband of the late Beverly Toffey. His sons, John P. Shugrue of Torrington, and Michael A. Shugrue of Woodbury, and their families, will miss John. Two grandsons also survive him.
He will be mourned in a private remembrance by his family and celebrated in a memorial Mass.
Frank J. Rogers Jr.
Worked at Waterbury P.O.
LITCHFIELD - Frank Joseph Rogers Jr., 84, passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011, at Rose Haven. He was the husband of the late Susan Rogers who passed away in 2002.
Born in Waterbury Dec. 8, 1926, he was the son of the late Frank and Lillian (Johnson) Rogers. Frank was a United States Navy and Army veteran of World War II. He had been a longtime Wolcott resident before recently moving to Litchfield. He retired from the Waterbury Post Office, where he had worked for many years as head of maintenance. He was also an avid ham radio operator and enjoyed cooking, the outdoors and reading the Bible.
Frank was very fond of the staff at Rose Haven and extremely grateful for the care he received.
He is survived by his nephews, Dr. John A. Magaldi and his wife, Patricia, of Litchfield, Gary DeVoe of Bethlehem, William Braun of Burlington, James Braun of Hawaii, and Carl Braun of Alabama, and several great nieces and nephews. He is also survived by a sister, Lillian Komansky of Colorado, and predeceased by four other sisters, Dorothy Braun, Claire Hasty, Edna Durbin and Florence Wilson.
Jonathan E. Lee
Worked in construction
MORRIS - Jonathan Eric Lee, 49, died unexpectedly at Hartford Hospital, surrounded by his loving family, on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011. He was the husband of Kandy (Peck) Lee.
Mr. Lee was born Feb. 10, 1962, in Washington, Conn., a son of Dorothy (Swanson) Lee of Washington and the late Robert Charles Lee. He was a graduate of Washington High School. Mr. Lee was employed by Georgia Pacific in Newtown for 10 years and later worked at Vic Nelson Corp. He most recently was self-employed in the construction industry.
Mr. Lee enjoyed fishing, skiing and spending time on a boat in Long Island Sound with his father and brother, but he loved spending time with his daughters and grandson.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Lee is survived by two daughters, Katera Peck of New Milford, and Tiffany Lee of Morris; a grandson, Jordon James Stroh of New Milford; four brothers, Stephen, Timothy Lee and Robert Lee, all of Washington, and Gregory Lee of Roxbury; two sisters, Cynthia Lee of New Milford, and Melissa Lee of Massachusetts; two brothers-in-law, Gregory Peck of Danbury, and Alan Peck of Amenia, N.Y.; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.
James C. Johnson Sr.
Racing enthusiast
WATERBURY - Mr. James C. "Doc" Johnson Sr., 86, of Waterbury, passed away Saturday, Feb. 26, 2011, at Saint Mary's Hospital.
Mr. Johnson was born March 11, 1924, in Waterbury, the son of the late Charles L. and Madeline (Lattimer) Johnson, and lived in Waterbury most of his life. He was a graduate of Bunker Hill Grammar School as well as Croft High School. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of WWII, serving north and south of the equator in Normandy, Italy and the Philippines and in Okinawa during the occupation of Japan. He was a recipient of the Victory Medal.
He was a chemical mixer at MacDermid Inc., retiring in 1983 after many years of service. In his younger days, he was very athletic playing basketball and baseball in the Brooklyn Dodgers farm system. He was also a racing enthusiast and was a member of the Harry Hall and George Landry stockcar racing teams and was also the gatekeeper for the Nutmeg Karting Association.
He enjoyed playing Santa Claus for many years at several Waterbury schools. Mr. Johnson was past commander of the Wolcott VFW Post 1979, a member of the Bristol American Legion Seicheprey Post No. 2 and was a lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans.
Mrs. Molly Pelletier
Stop & Shop employee
WATERBURY - Mrs. Molly (Teranes) Vasilakos Pelletier, 83, of 63 Wislock St., passed away on Monday, Feb. 28, 2011, at Saint Mary's Hospital in the presence of her loving family. She was the widow of J. Raymond Pelletier.
Molly was born in Bristol on Sept. 8, 1927, daughter of the late Anthony Teranes and Anna (Demos) Teranes Lewis, and was raised by her late stepfather, John Lewis. She worked for Stop & Shop Supermarket, primarily at the Reidville Drive and Cheshire stores for 27 years. She loved spending time at the South Waterbury Senior Center of Waterbury.
She was an avid UConn Women's Basketball and Yankee's fan, and especially loved her trips to Foxwood Casino to play bingo. She was a member of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, and will always be remembered for baking her famous "Yiayia" cookies.
Molly is survived by her son, George Vasilakos and his wife, Randee, of East Haven; her daughter, Janet Barbieri and her husband, John, of Waterbury; two stepsons, Ronald Pelletier and his wife, Lee, of Waterbury, David Pelletier and his wife, Judy, of Barkhamsted; four stepdaughters, Judy Sikorski and her husband, Michael, of Massachusetts, Patty Hannon and her husband, John, of Woodbury, Carol Grabowski and her husband, Ben, of Bantam, and Bonnie Heald and her husband, David, of Brookfield; two sisters, Mary Lemnotis of New Britain, and Sue Peterson of Newington; her grandson, Jason Vasilakos and his wife, Danielle, and a great-grandson, Anthony Vasilakos, all of Waterbury; a host of step grandchildren and great grandchildren; and her beloved cat, "Toula."
Joseph C. Capobianco
Worked for City of Waterbury
WATERBURY - Mr. Joseph C. Capobianco, 81, formerly of Rockland Ave., died Monday, Feb. 28, 2011, at Apple Rehabilitation Center in Watertown. He was the husband of the late Dorothy L. (Cook) Damia Capobianco.
Joe was born in Waterbury on Feb. 13, 1930, son of the late Mario and Catherine (Mancini) Capobianco. He worked for 34 years for the City of Waterbury Street Department, retiring in 1980. He was a lover of wildlife and the outdoors. He enjoyed picking and cooking wild mushrooms. Heavy equipment and all aspects of construction equipment fascinated him. He was very proud of his gardening skills. He collected World War II medals.
He is survived by his cousins, Domenic Narducci Jr. and his wife, Josephine, of Southbury, Donald Narducci and his wife, Marjorie, of Cheshire, William Mancini and his wife, Carol, of Naugatuck, Lois Mancini of Wolcott, Rose Ciaccio of Rhode Island, Eleanor Casagrande of Milford, and Nancy Hebert of Tennessee.
Arrangements: Funeral service 11 a.m. Thursday at Chase Parkway Memorial/The Albini Family Funeral Home, 430 Chase Parkway, Waterbury. Burial will follow in New Pine Grove Cemetery, Waterbury. Calling hour is Thursday from 10 a.m. until the time of service.
Mrs. Edith R. Norton Curtis House waitress
WOODBURY - Mrs. Edith Ruby (Cole) Norton, 80, died Saturday, Feb. 26, 2011, at Waterbury Hospital. She was the wife of the late George Thomas Norton Jr.
Mrs. Norton was born Aug. 2, 1930, in Milford, a daughter of the late Norman F. and Lillian (Hoxley) Cole. She was a 1948 graduate of Woodbury High School. Mrs. Norton was employed as a waitress at the Curtis House for many years, and then went on to work at the Southbury Training School until her retirement. She loved doing crossword puzzles, crocheting afghans for those she cared for, shopping, spending time with her family, and having breakfast with her dear friend, Anne. She spent her life working hard, raising her children, helping everyone around her, and being patient and kind. She always looked at the good side of people and she will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
She is survived by her children, George (Murph) Norton III of Bethlehem, Robert Norton of Naugatuck, Frank Norton and his wife, Joyce, of Waterbury, David (Chuck) Norton and his wife, Barbara, of Woodbury, Debbie Lindberg and her husband, John, of Woodbury, and Terri Willis and her husband, Marty, of Smithfield, Va.; 17 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and her siblings, Shirley Wescott, Donald Cole, Walter Cole, Harold Cole, Nancy Parnishkul and Arthur Cole, all of Woodbury, Judy Lamothe of Thomaston, Dorothy Merrill of West Virginia, and William Cole of New Hampshire. She was predeceased by her daughter, Cynthia Cassidy, and her siblings, Norman Cole Jr., Richard Cole, Jim Cole, Joan McCarthy, Alice Thomas and Francis Cole Sr.
Graveside services will be held in the spring in New North Cemetery, Woodbury.
