Michael        Luongo, Sr

Michael A. Luongo, Sr, 89, of Bethel, formerly of Brookfield and Fort Lauderdale, Fla., died on January 13 at Ashlar of Newtown. He was the husband of Anne M. (Gross) Luongo.

Mr Luongo was born on September 3, 1914, in Harrison, N.Y., the son of the late Joseph and Josephine (Rich) Luongo. Raised and educated in Harrison, he served in the US Army during World War II as a 1st Sergeant with the 1268th Services Command Unit and was later a New York State champion baton twirler with the Carle Anderson Post #559 American Legion Band of Harrison.

In 1955 Mr Luongo and his family moved to Bethel, where they resided until 1971.

He was the proprietor of the Danbury Chemical Company, from which he retired in 1976. As a Bethel resident, he was a parishioner of St Mary Church, and was a former Zoning Board commissioner and town constable. He also served as a member of the Connecticut State Democratic Central Committee from 1959 through 1964, and in 1965 was fundraising chairman for the local chapter of the American Red Cross.

In 1971 Mr Luongo and his family moved to Brookfield, residing there and also in Fort Lauderdale, eventually becoming year round residents over the next 29 years. He was an active member of St Rose of Lima Parish, Newtown, when residing in Brookfield. In 2002 Mr Luongo and his wife Anne returned to reside in Bethel.

In addition to his wife of 59 years, he is survived by two sons, Michael A. Luongo, Jr, of Fort Lauderdale and Daniel J. Luongo and his wife, Gina Powers-Luongo, of Brookfield; one daughter, Deborah M. Luongo and her husband, Michael Matta, of Danbury; and son-in-law, Manochere Arjam of Walnut Creek, Calif.; seven grandchildren, Dana Albury and her husband, Timothy, Farnaum Arjam, Austin Griffing, Georgina Luongo, Giovanni Luongo, Nicholas Henry, Anthony Henry; one great-grandson, Preston Albury; and several nieces and nephews. Mr Luongo was predeceased by his daughter, Jo-Anne B. Luongo-Arjam.

A Memorial Mass was celebrated on January 19 at St Rose of Lima Church, Newtown.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 607 Mott Avenue, Norwalk CT 06851, or to Hospice and Palliative Care of Connecticut, 237 East Aurora Street, Waterbury CT 06708.

Bethel Funeral Home, 215 Greenwood Avenue, Bethel, was in charge of arrangements.

The Newtown Bee        January 23, 2004