Monthly Newspaper • DIOCESE OF BRIDGEPORT

Bridgeport– Reverend Michael C. Palmer, 86 passed away on Monday, August 14, 2023. He was 86 years of age.

“Fr. Palmer is fondly remembered by many as the long-time pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Wilton, and for his contributions to Catholic education as a teacher and board member in the diocese. A quiet man with a humble sense of humor, Fr. Palmer brought a special understanding and affection to the many families he served in his long ministry.” said Bishop Frank J. Caggiano. “Please pray for the repose of the soul of Father Palmer and for the consolation of his family.”

Michael Coleman Palmer was born on February 20, 1937, in Stamford to William and Madeline Palmer. He was baptized at Saint John Catholic Church, Stamford, and received his First Holy Communion and Confirmation at St. Cecilia Church. He attended Grammar School in the Springdale section of Stamford, Dolan Junior High, and Stamford High School.

He attended St. Thomas Seminary College and received an A.A. in 1957. Father Palmer received his priestly formation at St. Bernard’s Seminary in Rochester, NY, graduating in 1959 with a B.A. in Philosophy. He was ordained to the priesthood at Saint Augustine Cathedral on May 25, 1963, by Most Reverend Walter W. Curtis, S.T.D.

Following his ordination, Father Palmer was assigned as an Assistant Priest at St. Thomas Parish, Fairfield. In 1965, he was assigned as a full member of the faculty of Christ the King Preparatory Seminary, Southport, and taught for five years. In September 1970, he was appointed full-time faculty member of St. Mary High School, Greenwich.

Father Palmer received an M.A. in Education (Counseling) from Fairfield University in June 1970. He also completed a period of Sabbatical Study in 1979 in the Department of Theology within the School of Religious Studies at The Catholic University of America.

In June 1971, Father Palmer was appointed Temporary Administrator of the Parish of St. John, Darien. He was appointed Associate Pastor of the Team Ministry at St. Ambrose Parish, Bridgeport in September 1971, and was appointed Pastor there in 1974.

In June 1977, Father Palmer was appointed to Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Wilton and served as Pastor for 36 years. He retired on June 30, 2013, following his 50th Anniversary of Ordination. He then became a resident of the Catherine Dennis Keefe Queen of the Clergy Residence in Stamford.

Throughout his priestly ministry, in addition to various parish assignments, he served our diocese by accepting appointments to the College of Consultors, was elected to the Presbyteral Council, and served as President of the Board of Directors of Region IV Catholic School System.

Father Palmer’s body will be received on Thursday, August 17, 2023, at Our Lady of Fatima Church, 229 Danbury Road, Wilton, at 3:00 pm and lie in repose until 6:45pm. At 7:00 pm a Mass will be celebrated by Monsignor Robert Crofut for the repose of his soul, and he will also be the homilist.

Bishop Caggiano will celebrate Father Palmer’s Funeral Mass on Friday, August 18, 2023 at 11:00 am. Monsignor Edward Surwilo will be the homilist. Interment will be private.

SCRANTON, PA—Sister Jeanne Albrittain, IHM, (formerly known as Sister M. Anton) of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Sunday, July 23, 2023, at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton, PA.

She was born on February 21, 1933, in Leonardtown, MD. She was the daughter of the late Henry and Leona Steiner Albrittain. She entered the IHM Congregation on September 8, 1951, made her temporary profession of vows on August 2, 1954, and her final profession of vows on August 2, 1957. Sister Jeanne received a Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education, and a Master of Science degree in elementary education, both from Marywood College.

Sister Jeanne served as a teacher in the following schools: St. Ambrose Elementary School in Bridgeport, CT, from 1954 to 1957; St. Agnes Elementary School in Baltimore, MD, from 1957 to 1967; Cathedral Elementary School in Raleigh, NC, from 1970 to 1972; Our Lady of Mount Carmel Elementary School in Altoona, PA, from 1972 to 1976; Little Flower Elementary School in Bethesda, MD, from 1976 to 1981; and Archbishop Neale Elementary School in La Plata, MD, from 1981 to 1989 and 1992 to 1993.

Sister served as principal at Saints Philip and James Elementary School in Smithtown, NY, from 1967 to 1970.

Sister Jeanne also served as director of religious education and as a pastoral associate at St. Anthony Parish in North Beach, MD, from 1989 to 1992; director of religious education and minister to the sick and homebound at Saints Catherine and Ignatius Parish in Port Tobacco, MD, from 1993 to 2000. She was a certified nurse’s aide and served at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton from 2001 to 2020. She also served on the support staff at the IHM Center in Scranton from 2020 to 2022.

From 2022 until the time of her death, Sister Jeanne was a prayer minister at Our Lady of Peace Residence.

She was preceded in death by three sisters, Doris Ballagh, Julia Anne Ventrello Jones and Shirley Garner, and a brother, Henry, Jr.

Sister Jeanne is survived by two sisters, Mary Lee Jones of LaPlata, MD, and Joan Marie Richardson of LaPlata, MD, nieces and nephews, and grandnieces and grandnephews. She is also survived by the members of the IHM Congregation.

The funeral will be Monday, August 7, at 11 am with Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Peace Residence, 1510 University Avenue in Dunmore, PA. Friends may call at Our Lady of Peace Residence on Monday, August 7, between 9 am and 10:30 am. A prayer service will be held at 10:30 am. Interment will follow Mass on Monday at St. Catherine’s Cemetery in Moscow, PA.

Memorial contributions may be made to support the retired IHM Sisters c/o the IHM Sisters Retirement Fund, IHM Center, 2300 Adams Avenue, Scranton, PA 18509.

BOLTON, Vt.—Kenneth Wooden, 87, of Bolton, Vt., and Kissimmee, Fla., passed away during a majestic sunset in Colchester, Vt., on July 3, 2023, surrounded by his loving family, following a fiercely valiant 22-year battle with prostate cancer.

Born on October 18, 1935, in Burlington, N.J., Ken overcame a childhood of poverty, severe learning disabilities and a speech impediment to become his family’s first college graduate, a celebrated writer, educator, speaker, investigative reporter, TV news producer and world-renowned child advocate. Ken credited his amazing wife, editor and lifelong partner, Martha, for making all his successes possible.

A proud veteran of the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division, Ken lived his life with zeal, reveling in the company of his large and adoring family, as well as thousands of friends from all walks of life. His many passions included his County Donegal Irish heritage, American history, the poetry of Carl Sandburg and Robert Frost, the New York Yankees, restoring antiques, Italian opera, winemaking, playing pinochle, cultivating flowers, Mediterranean cooking, entertaining in his “Kenny’s Irish Pub” woodshed and, most especially, “polishing the jewel” — gardening, mowing, and landscaping the breathtaking acreage of his remote cabin property nestled within Camel’s Hump State Park.

Ken and Martha first visited Vermont in the summer of 1970 and were instantly smitten with the beauty of the Green Mountains, the serenity of a culture in tune with nature, and the honesty, grit, and generosity of its residents. In 1974, they bought the historic Honey Hollow Camp in Bolton and spent summers and holidays there for a decade before moving to Vermont year-round, where they divided  their time between camp and their longtime residence in the heart of Shelburne Village.

As the author of multiple juvenile-justice books, including the Pulitzer-nominated Weeping in the Playtime of Others, which exposed corruption within America’s juvenile prison system, Ken delivered expert testimony to the United States Congress on 16 occasions and contributed groundbreaking child-welfare reporting to dozens of major media outlets, including The New York Times, CBS’ “60 Minutes,” Reader’s Digest, and The Chicago Sun Times.

Ken researched, wrote and created the Child Lures Prevention education program, which teaches youngsters safety strategies to protect against abuse. Through this program — continuously published without philanthropic or public sector support for 40+ years — Ken helped safeguard generations of children and families around the world and earned scores of accolades, including an Emmy Award, a U.S. Dept. of Justice Award for Public Service, an American Legion Public Spirit Award and his favorite, the Giraffe Award — “for sticking one’s neck out.”

Ken was a remarkable fighter, possessed with undying determination. Whether fighting for justice for children, fighting a speeding ticket all the way to the Vermont Supreme Court or bravely fighting his cruelly tenacious cancer, he always maintained his resolve, positivity and good humor. To symbolize his determination, at the age of 75, he got his first tattoo: the word “NUTS” on his right forearm, a reference to Brigadier General Anthony C. McAuliffe’s famous 1944 response to the Nazis demanding the U.S.A. surrender at the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. Ken loved showing his tattoo whenever he met someone new and always gave an impromptu history lesson while urging them to join him in declaring, “NUTS!” to all life’s setbacks.

A romantic and poet until the end, when all treatment options for battling his cancer were depleted, Ken took the opportunity to pen a poignant farewell Christmas letter to his friends and loved ones, closing with the words, “As I now realize — and accept — that my ‘Sun’ is setting, there is no fear, only joy for life and the chance it gave this poor Depression kid of the 1930s. It’s been a creative, exciting journey with no regrets. With a big smile, I wish you one and all the best in life. Cherish it, and continue to enjoy its many wonderful gifts. I love you….”

Ken is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Martha Braun Wooden; his adoring children Grace Gilbert-Davis (Essex Junction, Vt.), Rosemary Webb (Hinesburg, Vt.), Jennifer Mitchell (Williston, Vt.) and John Allen Wooden (Studio City, Calif.); in-laws Jeff Davis, Scott Webb, Carl Mitchell, Anna Liza Bella and Tess Barbach; grandchildren Calvin and Sarah Gilbert, Sophia and Preston Webb, Chase and Grant Mitchell, Simone and Ward Wooden; and great-grandson, Finn Gilbert. He is predeceased by his mother, Grace Theresa Ward; father, Edward F. Wooden; and brothers Carl, Edward and Richard Wooden.

For friends wishing to celebrate Ken’s remarkable life, the family invites you to walk amongst the noble stone walls, burbling streams and rolling meadows of his cherished Honey Hollow and remember Ken as you knew him, there within the “sublime tapestry of nature,” where his gentle spirit will linger forever.

Ken’s Favorite Quote: “I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live. Life is no ‘brief candle’ to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it onto future generations.” – George Bernard Shaw

An informal celebration of life for family and close friends will be held at Ken and Martha’s beloved Honey Hollow Camp from 2 to 4 pm, on July 22, 2023. Condolences and memories may be shared by visiting awrfh.com. In lieu of flower arrangements, please direct donations to Holly’s House Child and Adult Victim Advocacy Center, P.O. Box 4125, Evansville, IN, 47724.

We celebrate the life of Vito Mateo Montelli (Coach), 91, who passed away peacefully on July 7th, 2023, at his home surrounded by his loving family. He was married for 64 years to the love of his life Dolores “Magee” (Murphy) Montelli. Born in Bristol, CT on April 10, 1932, he was the only son of the late Salvatore and Lucrezia Montelli. Vito was a lifelong teacher. Upon graduating from the University of Bridgeport, Vito began his passion for coaching at Sacred Heart Grammar School in Bridgeport before enlisting in the Army. While in the Army, he met Dolores and soon after married her. Upon returning home, he started coaching baseball at Notre Dame High School. In 1962, Vito was the first hire at St. Joseph High School. At this time, he began his basketball coaching career, which spanned the next 50 years. During that time, Vito amassed 878 wins and 11 state championships, along with many national awards. However, it was his influence off the court that Coach will always be remembered for. He touched countless lives, leaving a lasting mark on many of those fortunate enough to have crossed paths with him.

Vito was a kind-hearted and generous man who was guided by his strong Faith and the philosophy that whatever you do in life, you do it with God in mind. This pure dedication to his faith, family, and friends was his true life’s work. In addition to his beloved wife, Dolores, survivors include their six loving children Andrew Montelli (Liz), Mary Ann Ciambriello (Frank), Michael Montelli (Nancy), Diane Morrisey (John), Theresa Montelli-Cavoto (Keith), Thomas Montelli (Debbie), his seventeen cherished grandchildren Katherine, Thomas, and Margaret Montelli, Carla, Gaetano, and Vito Ciambriello, Michael and Sofia Montelli, Marcelle, Mary Grace, Patrick, Frances, John Paul, and Luke Morrisey, Thomas Montelli, Grace and Jane Montelli, and his eight great-grandchildren.

We want to give a special heartfelt thanks to Vito’s “angel” caregivers: Sheila Ezekiel, Marisol Jorquera, Cherry Clarke, and Sandra DeCarvalho.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, July 13, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. in St. Mark Church, 500 Wigwam Lane, Stratford. Interment will follow in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Trumbull. Friends may greet the family on Wednesday, July 12, 2023 from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Abriola Parkview Funeral Home, 419 White Plains Rd., Trumbull. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Vito’s memory to the Vito Montelli Foundation, 775 Chickadee Lane, Stratford, CT 00614. For online condolences, please visit us at www.abriola.com

NEW FAIRFIELD–Deacon Paul B. Pilkington, 84, of New Fairfield, beloved husband of Ellen (Cumberton), died peacefully, surrounded by his family, Sunday, April 23, 2023.

“It is with great sadness I must inform you of the death of Deacon Paul Pilkington. Please pray for the repose of the soul of Deacon Paul and for the consolation of his family,” said Bishop Frank J. Caggiano.

Born in Staten Island, NY, he was the son of the late Stuart and Eleanor (Poggi) Pilkington. Paul retired from American Can Company in Greenwich, CT, was a member of St. Edward the Confessor Parish in New Fairfield and St. Gregory the Great in Danbury, where he served as a Deacon for 30 year. He also served in the Army Reserves in Fort Dix, NJ.

In addition to the love of his life & wife of 62 years, Paul will be deeply missed by his children Paul (Eileen) Pilkington, Marie (David) Bruckenthal, Anne (Kevin) Joyce, Edward Pilkington, John (Lisa) Pilkington, Lynda (Bob) Durkin, 14 grandchildren, one great grandchild, twin great grandchildren expected this summer, and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Paul was predeceased by brother Stuart and twin Robert.

Bishop Caggiano celebrated a Mass of Christian burial on Friday, April 28th at St. Edward the Confessor Church in New Fairfield.

Memorial contributions may be made in Paul’s name to the Diaconate Formation Program in Bridgeport or Regional Hospice in Danbury.

https://www.danburymemorial.com/obituary/Paul-Pilkington

DANBURY—Deacon Robert Blankschen passed away on May 10, 2023, at the age of 87.

“It is with great sadness I must inform you of the death of Deacon Robert Blankschen on May 10, 2023. Please pray for the repose of the soul of Deacon Blankschen and for the consolation of his family,” said Bishop Frank J. Caggiano in announcing his passing.

Deacon Robert “Bob” Blankschen was born in Bridgeport, to the late Elton and Hazel Blankschen on October 20, 1935. He attended Stratford High School, where he met the love of his life, Agnes Delia LaSella. Bob was a veteran of the US Navy and proudly served on the USS Hollis and USS O’Hare. He worked at Connecticut Light & Power for 38 years and retired as chief electrician.

Deacon Blankschen was ordained a permanent deacon of the Diocese of Bridgeport on April 29, 1978, and served at St. Gregory the Great Parish, Danbury, CT. He also ministered at Glen Hill Center Nursing Home and the Dorothy Hospitality House. Bob was involved with the Marriage Encounter community. He enjoyed woodworking, traveling, and being with his family and friends.

Bob was predeceased by his son, Michael; his daughter-in-law, Jill; and his brother, Edward Blankschen. Bob leaves behind his beloved and faithful bride of 67 years, Agnes, and their children: Linda Bertozzi (Duane), Kathryn Bretz (Thomas), Robert Jr. (Lisa), David (Angelina), Kenneth (Karin), and James (significant other, Desiree); his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, his sister Gail LaSella; and brother Warren Blankschen (Denise).

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wed., May 17th, at 10:00 am, at St. Gregory the Great Church, Danbury, CT, with the Most Reverend Frank J. Caggiano, officiating. Burial will follow in St. Peter Cemetery. Visitation will be at the church on Tuesday, May 16th, from 4:00-7:00 pm.

Memorial contributions may be made to St Gregory the Great Church. To leave a condolence please visit www.CornellMemorial.com.

WESTPORT—Joan Marie Kelly, age 73, died at her home in Westport on Friday, May 5, 2023.

A lifelong Catholic, Joan was a pioneer in faith formation in the Diocese of Bridgeport, who was devoted to her faith and shared her extraordinary gifts as a scholar, teacher, and lecturer with all age groups.

Born in Taunton, Mass., on June 8, 1949, Joan was one of two daughters of Massachusetts State Police Adjutant Major John J. Kelly, and his wife, Agnes, both deceased.

Joan graduated from St. Joseph College in West Hartford, Conn. (now the University of Saint Joseph) and received a master’s degree in Theology from the Catholic University of America in Washington and a doctorate from the Graduate Theological Foundation at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana.

“For those of us blessed to have her in our lives, she was a friend, a colleague, and a staunch defender of the faith. She was the consummate Catholic teacher, living the Gospel, spreading the faith with her smile, quick wit, and endless charm. Even in her later years, Joan was in demand as a retreat leader and presenter,” said Dr. Patrick Donovan, Director of The Institute for Catholic Formation of the diocese.

For several years she served as the Director of Religious Education at St. Pius X Parish in Fairfield. As the Director of Catechesis for the Diocese of Bridgeport, she oversaw the religious education programs of young people and converts to the Catholic faith in 88 parishes across Fairfield County. Countless priests and deacons are indebted to Joan for her classes in the diocese’s deacon formation program, as well as the theological formation program for seminarians at the former St. John Fisher Seminary in Stamford. In recognition of her commitment to the teaching mission of the Catholic Church, Joan received the Papal Cross (Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice) from Pope St. John Paul II, the Holy See’s highest honor for the laity.

In recent years, Joan was a professor in the Catholic Studies Department at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, where she taught Biblical Studies (Introduction to the New Testament) and Great Books of the Catholic Intellectual Tradition. She consistently earned high marks from her students for her enthusiasm, kindness, and commitment to their learning and success.

Joan is survived by her sister, Mary A. Vasile, and her husband, James, of Alexandria, Va. and many loving cousins.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday May 16, 2023, at St. Theresa Parish, 5301 Main Street Trumbull, CT, at 11 AM. The funeral can be livestreamed by visiting sttheresatrumbull.org and clicking the “livestream” banner.

Interment will be at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Anthony Shrine, 100 Arch Street, Boston, MA 02110. Stanthonyshrine.org.

Sister Julianna (Elizabeth Ann) Poole was born in Manhattan, on February 18, 1928, and Baptized at St. Bernard’s Church in New York City, on March 18, 1928. She died at Ozanam Hall, Bayside, NY, on May 4, 2023, aged 95. Her parents, George and Johanna (Kavanagh), immigrants from Ireland, later resided in St. Saviour Parish in Brooklyn, where she and her brothers, George and Henry, were educated by the School Sisters of Notre Dame.

After pronouncing her vows as a School Sister in 1948, she taught in Bridgeport, Connecticut, before spending 12 years at schools in Puerto Rico. Later assignments as administrator at schools in Hartford and New Haven, were followed by ten years as Professor of Education at Fairfield University, and six as assistant in the Alumni Office. In her retirement Sister Julianna resided at Villa Notre Dame in Wilton.

A Wake service and Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Andrew Church, Anton Street, Bridgeport, on Thursday, May 11 at 10:00; Wake Service at 10:30 and Liturgy at 11:30.

Memorial contributions may be made to the School Sisters of Notre Dame, Development Office, 345 Belden Hill Road, Wilton, CT 06897.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Martin A. Gleason Funeral Home, Bayside, NY.

Sister Jude Carroll, CSFN, passed away peacefully in her sleep on April 23, 2023.

Born Judith Ann Carroll, Sister Jude entered into the world on January 3, 1942, the youngest of three children born to John and Ruth (Adams) Carroll. Upon graduation from elementary school, Sister entered Stamford High School.

In June of 1959, she enrolled in the University of Connecticut and earned a degree in English. Sister Jude went on the work in the Social Security office for 11 years, rising from the position of claims representative to branch manager.

Sister Jude entered the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth on February 6, 1977. During her years in Nazareth, Sister earned a Master Degree in Religious Education from Fairfield University, Fairfield, and a graduate certificate in Spirituality from St. Joseph College, Hartford. Sister ministered as DRE in three parishes: St. Hyacinth Parish, Glen Head, N.Y., Our Lady of the Lakes, Oakdale, Conn., and St. Joseph Parish, Shelton. Sister also assisted with retreat activities at the House of Prayer, Riverhead, N.Y.

Sister Jude contracted polio at the age of eight, which left her with paralysis in her left leg. Later in life, she was diagnosed with post-polio syndrome, a debilitating muscular disease, an after-effect of polio, which attacks multiple areas of the body. As her muscular system progressively weakened, Sister retired from ministry in 2004. In August of 2017 she was admitted as a resident of St. John Paul II Facility, Danbury, a skilled nursing facility.

While at St. John Paul II Facility, Sister could be seen on her powered wheelchair visiting with patients, listening to and encouraging them and praying with and for them. She served as lector at the daily Mass and joined in the recreational activities offered at the facility. As her health continued to decline, she found herself less able to participate in activities of any kind. Eventually, Sister became bedridden which did not hamper her spirit. She continued to read her daily newspaper, keeping up with the current events. She looked forward to visits from her family and friends. After her hospitalization in March, Sister could no longer fight the disease and returned to St. John Paul II Facility, where she died in the afternoon of April 23, 2023.

Sister Jude was preceded in death by her parents, John and Ruth Carroll; and her sister, Barbara Baker. She is survived by her brother, Jack Carroll, numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. Funeral services will be private. Online condolences may be left at SpadaccinoFuneralHome.com .

Sam (Salvatore ) A. Cingari, Jr., a devoted family man, Founder, Partner and Chief Financial Officer of Grade A Markets and the Cingari Family ShopRite of Southwestern Connecticut, and a prominent figure in the Stamford community, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family, on Wednesday, March 8, 2023.

He was born on October 15, 1930, of Italian immigrants, in Stamford, Conn., and was the youngest of six children. The Cingari family were active members of St. Mary Parish. Sam attended Rogers grammar school and graduated from Stamford High School in 1949. Sam was a lifelong Stamford resident whose boyhood was spent working beside his father who was a grocery peddler. In his teenage years he delivered groceries to many customers of his father’s now small corner market Grade A.

In 1949, Sam left Stamford for the first time to earn a degree in accounting at Bryant College in Smithfield, R.I. It was here that Sam met his wife, Catherine Franco, at church on their first weekend on campus. Sam and Cathy were married on September 1, 1952 and committed their lives to raising a family in their faith and serving their church and larger community. They were married for 66 years. Sam began his career as an accountant for a local accounting firm before joining his father and two brothers at Grade A Market where he worked every day up until his final days.

Sam was predeceased by his parents Salvatore and Rosa Cingari, his beloved wife Catherine (Cathy) Cingari and his siblings Catina Sciaba, Dominick P. Cingari, Joseph Cingari, Rocco Cingari and Mary Cutugno. Sam is survived by his six children, Rosemary, John (Tricia), Michael, Tom (Sue), David(Janine), Mary Donovan (Brian), 15 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren as well as many nieces, nephews and dear friends. Of all the titles Sam possessed, his most precious was his title “Papa” as he was known and loved by his beloved grandchildren, great-grandchildren and all their friends he so graciously welcomed into his home for the famous Sunday cookouts throughout the years.

As a lifelong Stamford resident, Sam was active at ShopRite/Grade A Markets, where he was always found greeting customers in the aisles and mentoring employees but also serving the people in the greater Stamford community at large. Sam was the driving force behind the customer-centered culture that is the trademark of the now -12 Cingari Family ShopRite supermarkets across Connecticut. As a grocer and philanthropist, Sam was especially dedicated to fighting hunger, a passion that eventually led to his being named Chairman of the Board of the Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County. Sam and his brothers were recognized as Corporate Citizens for their companies’ lifelong contributions enabling the Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County to feed the hungry throughout their community. In 2003, they were also honored as Ambassadors to Humanity.

In addition, Sam served his community as an active member of the Board of Directors for St. John’s Towers, the low-income housing for the City of Stamford since 1992. He was also a member of the Board of Directors for St. Joseph’s Hospital from 1985-2000 and the YMCA for 25 years. Sam was a member of the Connecticut Grand Opera and Orchestra Board of Directors and a sponsor of the New York Metropolitan Opera at Lincoln Center for 45 years. He was honored as The Stamford Citizen Of The Year in 2001 and State Street Debating Society’s Man Of The Year in 2001. In addition, Sam was honored by the Knights of Columbus as the Grand Marshall of the 2006 Columbus Day Parade.

Sam and his family became active members of Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish in Stamford, established in their neighborhood in 1964. Sam dedicated his time, talent and treasure assisting in the building of a church, school and parish community. Sam was a member of the first Parish Council and was elected Trustee in 1990 and served in this capacity for over 25 years. In 2005, Sam was awarded the St. Augustine Medal of Service by the Most Reverend William E. Lori of the Diocese of Bridgeport and in 2018, Pope Francis bestowed upon Sam the Papal honor of Knight of the Order of St. Sylvester Pope, for living a life of exemplary faith and excelling in business and society, which was awarded to him by the Most Reverend Bishop J. Caggiano of the Diocese of Bridgeport.

Sam and Cathy Cingari have left a remarkable legacy steeped in virtue and values of faith, family, humble leadership, care and serving in Fairfield County, Conn. They have served and supported many organizations, and their children and grandchildren continue to honor their legacy. A legacy best described in the sacred words of Scripture so dear to Sam: “If God has been generous with you, he will expect you to serve him well. But if he has been more than generous, he will expect you to serve him even better” – Luke 12:48

Calling hours will be private. There will be a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Mary’s Catholic Church 566 Elm St., Stamford, Conn. on Wednesday, March 15, at 11 am. Burial will follow at St. John’s Cemetery in Darien immediately following Mass.

During this most solemn holy season of Lent, flower arrangements can not be accepted at the funeral home or the Church. Thank you for your understanding.

The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, you consider a donation in Sam’s honor to: The Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County, 461 Glenbrook Road, Stamford, CT 06906, or via https://www.foodbanklfc.org/how-to-help#MonetaryDonations

Arrangements are under the direction of Thomas M. Gallagher Funeral Home (203)-359-9999. To send online condolences to the Cingari family, please visit https://gallagherfuneralhome.com