- Date Of Birth: June 10, 1928
- Date Of Death: February 21, 2014
- State: Connecticut
A life long resident of Norwich, Sir Anthony ‘Monk’ D. Lonardelli, Sr. passed away peacefully on February 21st at Greentree Manor in Waterford, CT.
Anthony was the son of the late Joseph, Sr. and Virginia Lonardelli of Norwich, CT.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife, of 59 years, Irene M. (Grimshaw) Lonardelli, united in marriage at St. Mary’s Church in Norwich on February 19, 1955; and his children, sons, Anthony D. Lonardelli, Jr. of Lebanon, CT, Mark and wife, Kris Lonardelli, of Lebanon, CT, Michael and wife, Diane Lonardelli, of Cheshire, CT and daughter, Carrie and husband, Paul Szymanski, of Norwich.
He also leaves eight beautiful Grandchildren; Shawn and Scott Lonardelli, David and Nicole Lonardelli, all of Lebanon, CT; Ethan and Calista Lonardelli, of Cheshire, CT and Justin and Michael Szymanski, of Norwich.
And also two brothers, Jack and Mario Lonardelli, and four sisters, Antoinette Rabideau, Bomina Crouch, Virginia Algiere and Theresa Benvenuti and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother, Joseph Lonardelli, Jr.
Anthony was educated in local schools. He was a 1943 graduate of St. Patrick’s Cathedral School and a 1947 graduate of the Norwich Free Academy. He also studied at LaSalette Prep College in Hartford.
While at NFA, Anthony was a member of the 1945 State Champion Football team.
Anthony was a proud Veteran of the United States Army. He served as a Forward Observer during the Korean War conflict from 1950 – 1952 with the 8th 24th Infantry Division. He was a life long member of the American Legion Post # 4 and the Veteran’s of Foreign Wars Post # 594.
He was employed at General Dynamics Electric Boat for 36 years, retiring as a Security Document Specialist.
Anthony was an active member of the community and provided years of dedicated service to the City of Norwich.
He was a three-term elect City Council Alderman and Secretary of the Norwich Democratic Party, supporting many democratic candidates, to include the Dodd Family and William St. Onge.
He was a five-term member of the Board of Selectman and a City Representative to the TVCCA.
Anthony played an active role with growing the Norwich Little League Baseball Complex and was also the Norwich Little League Baseball Secretary and Coach for his sons for many years.
In 1979, he was the Norwich Midget Football League President and Coach for his sons for many years. He, along with fellow board members, conceived and built, the now Norwich Midget Football Hamilton Avenue complex. He was also Secretary of the SECT Chapter National Football Foundation.
In 1989, he was named one of the Italian Men of the Year by the American Legion Post #4 for his many years of dedicated community service and was honored with a City of Norwich Proclamation presented by City Council President, Bonnie R. Hong. He was a United Italian Society member.
He was a member of the Norwich Recreation Advisory Board and Norwich Softball City League President. For many years, he sponsored and coached several basketball and softball teams with his sons, Lonardelli’s Golden Nuggets. They won many events, including the 1992 Jack Benny Tournament Championship.
Anthony gave tireless hours as the Norwich Host Town Chairman for sixty-five Kazakhstan athletes participating in the 1995 International Special Olympic World Games (in CT).
He was the recipient of the 1996 Joseph Kaptelna Athletic Service Award and later inducted into the Norwich Sports Hall of Fame.
Anthony was also a Norwich Cable Television Advisory Board member. He was a Certified Access User/ Studio Camera Operator for the Adelphia Cable Public Access Television. He was the Producer and Host of the Public Access TV programs, Catholic Awareness and Citizen’s Comments.
In earlier years, he was an Elector for St. Patrick’s Cathedral and St. Mary’s Parish in Norwich. He was a Catholic Charities Advisory Board Member and a St. Mary’s Church Council # 10859 Grand Knight of Columbus. He was a member of the Rev. Daniel Mullen Assembly 4th Degree Knights of Columbus.
In 2002, Anthony was knighted in the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem at the Cathedral of Saint Patrick in New York City. And in 2005, he was elevated to the rank of Commander in the Esquestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem of the Eastern Lieutenancy of the United States, also held at the Cathedral of Saint Patrick in New York City.
Anthony enjoyed traveling with his wife, Family and Friends throughout New England. He was always ready to have the Family together for a Sunday afternoon dinner or picnic and a game of horse shoes or Bocci ball.
Anthony and Irene especially enjoyed the Holidays, gathering the Family together by hosting Family Holiday Open House for so many wonderful years.
He so very much enjoyed having his home the gathering place for the weekend card games and Family Cribbage Board tournaments with his wife Irene, his children, his brother Joe, neighborhood friends and Family friends.
He especially enjoyed traveling to follow the sports careers of his children and grandchildren throughout their Youth / City League basketball, soccer, track and field, baseball and football team/leagues, their High School basketball, baseball, wrestling and track and field events and also their collegiate baseball, rugby and track and field sporting events. We could always count on seeing ‘Papa’ (or ‘Gramps’) cheering on and supporting us from the side line.
The abundance of good memories will be with always close in our hearts.
The Lonardelli Family would like to extend their sincere gratitude to the entire Greentree Manor staff and Hospice for all their years of continued care, comfort and kindness shown to Sir Anthony and his Family.
