Roger Chericoni, 77, of Bradenton, Florida, passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 29, 2017 at his home in Groton Long Point, Connecticut surrounded by his loving wife and daughters.
Roger was born on October 26, 1939 in Jersey City, New Jersey to Umberto and Martha (Meich) Chericoni. Roger was a first generation American, his father having come to America from Livorno, Italy, in the early 1930s. He was raised in Hoboken, New Jersey where he went to school and met the love of his life and wife of 53 years, Phyllis (Presti) Chericoni. Roger attended Farleigh Dickinson University where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechnical Engineering, the first in his family to attend college.
On August 25, 1962, Roger and Phyllis were married at St. Ann's Church in Hoboken, New Jersey. Roger accepted a position as a mechanical engineer at Pratt and Whitney Aircraft in East Hartford, Connecticut, and they moved to Hartford and later to Glastonbury, Connecticut where they lived for over 40 years. Roger earned a Masters in Science degree from the University of Connecticut and worked for Pratt and Whitney Aircraft for his entire career, retiring in 1999 as the Senior Vice President of Quality, a position for which he was highly regarded. He travelled extensively in his career and was most highly regarded for his work in the field of quality assurance where he earned many awards and for which his work was emulated by many other corporations.
After his retirement in 1999, Roger resided with Phyllis in Groton Long Point, Connecticut until the time of his death, where he was an active member of the Groton Long Point Association. During his tenure, he served as Commissioner of governance. He was also an active member of the Southeast Chapter of the University of Connecticut Alumni Association. Roger loved spending time with his family and friends, traveling and spending time on his boat on the Long Island Sound. He was a most loyal husband, father, grandfather and friend who was thoughtful and passionate in his opinions and beliefs.
Roger was predeceased by his mother and father, Umberto and Martha (Meich) Chericoni and his most dear aunt, Katherine (Meich) Harris. He is survived by his most loving wife, Phyllis (Presti) Chericoni and his daughters Susan Chericoni MacClain (Thomas Underwood) and Tina Chericoni Versaci (Hon. Vincent Versaci) and three grandchildren, Caroline Margaret, Rosemarie Amalia and Michael Roger Versaci. He is also survived by sisters-in-law Theresa (Presti) Caracappa and Rosemarie (Presti) Castellitto and brother-in-law James Caracappa and his loving nieces and nephews as well as his cousins Linda and Elda Chericoni of Livorno, Italy and Charles and David Harris of California and Washington, respectively.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, August 4, at 11:00am at St. Mary Mother of the Redeemer Church, 69 Groton Long Point Road, Groton, followed by a reception at St. Edmunds Retreat at Enders Island in Mystic. A private burial will follow at the convenience of the family in Hoboken, New Jersey.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Masonicare at Mystic, 45 Clara Drive, Mystic CT 06355, the Falcone Healing Garden at the Yale-New Haven Smilow Cancer Center, 230 Waterford Park South, Waterford CT 06385, or to St. Edmund's Retreat, Ender's Island, One Ender's Island (P.O. Box 399), Mystic CT 06355.
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