New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
Marchitto, city’s oldest active Republican, dies at 102
WEST HAVEN — Jennie Recchia Marchitto — known affectionately as “Aunt Jennie” to West Haven Republicans and people all over the Allingtown neighborhood she spent most of her life in — was well-known for a number of things.
For years, Marchitto — who was laid to rest Friday after passing away Tuesday at the age of 102 — was the oldest and longest-serving active Republican in town, serving as a poll worker and volunteer for many, many years.
She was a devoted member of the old Our Lady of Mount Carmel chapel in Allingtown, which was part of the recently merged St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church parish.
She “had wonderful handwriting,” according to one relative.
But among the many things that cousin Tom Marchitto loved about Jennie Marchitto, certain key memories — along with that handwriting — stood out.
“You couldn’t go out of her house without some food — typical Italian,”
Tom Marchitto said.
And make no mistake: “She made a wonderful blue crab sauce.”
Not that that lip-smacking crab sauce defined her.
“She was a very giving person, a very hard worker, very smart,” said Tom Marchitto. “She used to keep a journal ... She was just a wonderful, warm person — and she was a very dedicated Republican...
“God bless her, she was 102,” he said of his cousin, who wore a tiara at her 100th birthday party. “She was in very good health until she was 98.”
“Aunt Jennie” was a lifelong resident of West Haven until her deteriorating health made it necessary to move in with her daughter, Judith Conlon, in Guilford a few years ago, Tom Marchitto said.
Jennie Marchitto’s husband, Joseph Marchitto, predeceased her — and their son, Michael, who was a Pratt & Whitney engineer who also owned a garage
and raced cars at the old Savin Rock track — died a few years ago at age 76.
For many years, Jennie Marchitto — who counts among her survivors a 98-year-old sister, Justine Iamele, and another sister, Rose Maggiore — worked for the phone company.
She was a member of the Allingtown Senior Center for more than 25 years, Tom Marchitto said.
Republican Registrar of Voters JoAnn Callegari said that Jennie Marchitto “was one of my poll workers for many years until, I would say, she was in her 80s.
“She was dedicated first to her family, then to God and then to the Republican Party of West Haven,” Callegari said.
At one point a few years ago, Marchitto was honored by her fellow members of the GOP as West Haven’s “Republican of the Year,” Callegari said.
“She always had a smile on her face” and would tell people, “Whatever you need ... What can I do?” Callegari said. “She was just an extraordinary individual.”
West Haven Republican Town Chairwoman Patricia Libero said of Marchitto, “Jennie was an inspiration to West Haven. She volunteered at the church, she was a dedicated Republican” — and despite her age, “her energy was boundless.”
In addition to her daughter and her sisters, Marchitto is survived by grandchildren Kimberly Conlon, Mark Conlon, Michael (Katy) Marchitto, Andrew Marchitto, great grandchildren Thomas, Melissa and Aiden Conlon, Joseph, Becky and Lilly Marchitto and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband, son and her parents, the late Natle and Rose Beneaquista Recchia, she was predeceased by grandson Joseph Michael Conlon, son-in-law Joseph Conlon, her brothers Albert, Anthony and William Recchia and stepsister Josephine Conway.