Obituary: Anthony S. Sagnella Dies at 80

NAUGATUCK — Anthony (Tony) S. Sagnella, 80, died on Tuesday, February 7, 2012.  He was the husband of Lorraine (Raucci) Sagnella for 54 years.

Tony was born December 18, 1931 in Waterbury son of the late Anthony P. and Rose M. (Genite) (Barbieri) Sagnella. He was a 1950 graduate of Naugatuck High School, a Korean War Veteran of the U.S. Army Medical Corp. and honorably discharged as Corporal at Fort Meyers, Mass. on July 13, 1954. 

Tony was employed at Uniroyal, Inc. for 33 years and retired after 10 years at Risdon Mfg. He was a communicant of St. Vincent Ferrer Church and also a chairman of St. Mary Church Men's Holy Family Retreat group for many years. He was a member of the Fraternal Order Eagles of Naugatuck having held the office of Vice-President and a Life-Time member of V.F.W. Post 1946.  

In his younger days, Tony played the accordion in several local bands and the Rich Bobinski Orchestra. He also gave accordion lessons for many years.  Tony was an avid fan of the Boston Red Sox, and the UCONN Men's & Women's Basketball Teams. He and his wife, who is a passionate N.Y. Yankees fan, had a "friendly" rivalry together.

In addition to his wife, Lorraine, he is survived by a daughter Rita, son-in-law William Cosgrove, and their dog "Hanz"; a step-brother, Joseph Barbera of Rochester, New York; and many nephews and nieces. He was predeceased by two step-brothers and their spouses, Gus and Phyllis Barbieri, John and Louise Barbieri; three step-sisters and their spouses, Lena Barbieri, Hilda and William Smith, Yolanda and Nunzi Finateri, and sister-in-law Angela Barbera.

The family wishes to thank the staff of the Naugatuck Visiting Nurses Association, VITAS Palliative Care.

His funeral will be held on Friday, February 10 at 9:15 a.m. from the Naugatuck Valley Memorial/Fitzgerald Zembruski Funeral Home, 240 North Main St., Naugatuck to St. Vincent Ferrer Church, for a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m.  Burial with military honors will follow in St. James Cemetery, Cross Street, Naugatuck. Calling hours will be held at the funeral home on Thursday evening from 5-8 p.m. Members of the Naugatuck Veteran's Council will meet at the funeral home at 7:15 p.m.  Memorial contributions can be made in Tony's memory to: V.F.W. Post 1946, P.O. Box 85, Naugatuck; St. Vincent Ferrer Church, 1006 New Haven Rd., Naugatuck; or St. Mary Church, 338 North Main St., Naugatuck, CT 06770. To send an on-line condolence, please visit www.naugatuckvalleymemorial.com.