William A. Parrilla

William A. Parrilla, 86, died September 18, at his home in New Fairfield. Born in New York City, April 10, 1926, he was a longtime resident of Fairfield, and a longtime employee of ITT Avionics in Nutley, N.J., where he was director of marketing, and involved in infrared imaging and electro optical engineering, specializing in applications within the aerospace and defense industries.

His wife of 58 years, Gloria (Lupinetti); his sons Michael, and his wife Patricia, of Newtown; William, and his wife Kieran, of Wyckoff, N.J.; his daughter Andrea Parrilla Fletcher, and her husband Shaun, of New Fairfield; seven grandchildren; three brothers and wives, Henry and Rosemarie, Dario and Camille, and Robert and Carole; two sisters, Myra Parrilla Salmaggi and Erica Parrilla Batelli, and her husband Louis; and his sister-in-law Marianne survive Mr Parrilla. He was predeceased by his brothers Umberto and Joseph; and his sister-in-law Lucille and her husband, John Collins.

Mr Parilla was a self-taught and self-schooled engineer. For 19 years, he was employed by the Barnes Engineering company, where in 1964 he and a colleague, Harold Yates, obtained patents for an electro optical tracking device used to detect missiles reentering the atmosphere, a breakthrough at the time. While employed there, he was also involved in the Gemini and Apollo space programs.

A veteran of World War II, he served in the Merchant Marine in the Atlantic and later in the Air Force in the Pacific. He was recalled to duty during the Korean War. He was discharged from the Air Force in 1953, with the rank of master sergeant.

An avid reader, he was no stranger to Kipling, Poe, Thurber, Stevenson, and Fennimore Cooper. He was equally at home listening to Puccini or Eddie Arnold, Brahms or the Brothers Four. He was an avid outdoorsman, fly fisherman, and lover of nature. He and his wife established a 140-acre tree farm outside of Deposit, N.Y., during their retirement years. It was here, walking the fields and woods with his family, that he was happiest.

A memorial service will be held at St Thomas Aquinas Church, 1719 Post Road, Fairfield, at 11 am, Saturday September 22.

In lieu of flowers a memorial gift can be made in honor of William A. Parrilla to the National Parks Conservation Association, at NPCA 777 6th Street NW, Suite 700, Washington DC 20001-3723 or at www.npca.org.

The Newtown Bee     September 21, 2012