Obituary of Orlando J.P. "Red" Francesconi

Orlando J. P. "Red" Francesconi died peacefully at home in Darien on Sunday, December 16, 2012, surrounded by family. He was born May 20, 1916, in Stamford, to the late Joseph Francesconi and Clementa Brunetti Francesconi. Mr. Francesconi graduated from the Stamford High School Class of 1934. He served in the U. S. Army from June 1941 to June 1944 in the European, North African and Middle Eastern Theaters. He achieved the rank of Second Lieutenant and served as Infantry Regiment Platoon Officer with the First Infantry Division. He was honorably discharged in June 1944. In August of 2011 he was personally awarded the World War II Victory Medal at his home in Darien by Congressman Jim Himes. Red was employed by American Cyanamid (now Cytec Industries) for 38 years in the Chemical Engineering Department having retired in 1983. His prior employment, before WWII, was at Conde Nast Publications in Greenwich. In 1946 his love of carpentry led him to take on the task of building his own house, a home he has shared with his wife, Nancy LoCicero Francesconi, whom he married on September 13, 1947. This is the Darien home they have lived in for 65 years with their 4 children. Mr. Francesconi was a member of the Darien-New Canaan AARP Chapter 972; a member of the Darien Senior Activities Center where he volunteered much time during his retirement years; and a member of St. Thomas More R. C. Church in Darien. In addition to his wife, Nancy, he is survived by 3 daughters and a son: Lynn Francesconi of Bridgewater, N.J. and her husband, Benjamin Fieselmann; Jane McCamish of Walnut Creek, CA, and her husband James; Ellen Konitshek, of El Cajon, CA, and her husband, Dean; and Peter Francesconi, of Woodbury, CT, and his wife, Cynthia Sherman. Also surviving are five grandchildren, Daniel McCamish and his wife Michelle; Lisa McCamish Smith and her husband Jake; Benjamin Fieselmann; Heidi Fieselmann; and Krista Fieselmann; and two great grandchildren, Micah and Matthew McCamish. Also surviving are nieces MaryAnn Hallowell of Stamford; Audrey Cool of Naugatuck; and nephew James Caterbone of Stamford. He was predeceased by his parents and two sisters, Dora Caterbone of Stamford, and Elda Gabriel of Naugatuck. The family will receive friends at the Edward Lawrence Funeral Home, 2119 Post Road, Darien on Thursday, December 20, 2012 from 5:00 to 8:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Thomas More R.C. Church, 374 Middlesex Road, Darien on Friday, December 21, 2012 at 10:30 AM. Burial will follow at St. John Cemetery, Darien. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, P. O. Box 1893, Memphis, TN 38101 or St. Thomas More R. C. Church Building Fund, 374 Middlesex Road, Darien, CT. 06820 Funeral Home: Edward Lawrence Funeral Home 2119 Post Road Darien, CT USA 06820