Pasquale Elia

October 25, 2022

Pasquale “Pat” Elia entered eternal rest on Tuesday, October 25, 2022.

Pasquale Anthony Elia was born on October 10, 1943, in New Haven to Anthony and Marie (Perrelli) Elia. He attended St. Boniface Grammar School and then went to Notre Dame High School in West Haven. He was the president of his Junior and Senior Classes and lettered in basketball and baseball. His 1960 basketball team came in second in the State and third in New England. He was Captain of his basketball team in 1961 and received the Notre Dame Athlete of the Year Award. He was selected to the All-District Basketball Team in 1961, received the Criscuolo Award and the Wonder Bread “Wonder Five” Award.

Upon graduation he received a full two-year scholarship to St. Leo Junior College in Florida. His team won the Florida State championship in 1962 and was ranked third in the country for Junior Colleges. He was selected to All-State Teams and was co-captain of his team in 1962-63. He was a walk-on baseball player for two years. Later on, Pat was inducted into the St. Leo University Athletic Hall of Fame.

After St. Leo, Pat received another full two-year basketball scholarship to Spring Hill College, a Jesuit Institution, in Mobile Alabama. He played basketball for two years and was selected as the team captain in his Senior year. He was also a walk-on baseball player. Pat also played baseball locally for the New Haven Babe Ruth League, the West Haven American Legion team, and the West Haven Twilight League.

Upon graduation from Spring Hill, Pat’s first job opportunity was as a Varsity Basketball Coach, Assistant Baseball Coach and Social Studies teacher at Notre Dame High School in Biloxi, Mississippi. He worked there for three years then was hired as the Varsity Basketball Coach and Social Studies teacher at Eli Whitney Regional Vocational School in Hamden, CT. While at Eli Whitney he eventually became a School Counselor, Counseling Coordinator. He retired in 1997 from Eli Whitney as an Assistant Director (Principal). During those years at Eli Whitney Pat became the President of the State Vocational Federation of Teachers and assisted in baseball coaching at Southern CT State University. Pat’s last nine years in education were as the Assistant Principal at North Haven Middle School.

He loved and respected all of his players, students. and staff. During this time, he assisted coaching the Hawks in West Haven’s Youth Basketball League.

Pat received a master’s degree in Education from Fairfield University and a Sixth-Year degree in Administration from Southern Connecticut State University.

Pat was predeceased by his parents and brother, Frank. He leaves behind his beloved brother Anthony (Lorelei) Elia; his nephews Paul (Kristi), Jeff, and niece, Anne-Marie (Craig) Dykstra. Also, his sister-in-law Linda ( Joseph) Farrell and nephew Brian (Ana) Farrell, and many dear cousins. He also leaves his caring wife, Mary Moninger-Elia whom he loved and adored, as well his friends, Richard and Linda Marra and their family.

In his spare time, he liked to play racquetball at the Jewish Community Center on Chapel St., and golf with good friends at the Race Brook Country Club in Orange.

He enjoyed his Elia Family Christmas parties and summer picnics, along with the Brennan/ Perrelli family cookouts and Christmas Eve. He loved his family and his meetings with his Notre Dame Reunion Committee at App’s Restaurant.

In his retirement Pat loved to travel with his wife, Mary. Every year they went to Block Island, RI, to swim and read, Jekyll Island, GA for golf, and Rapallo, Italy with their good friends Rich and Linda Marra. Pat loved life. He always lived in the moment. He believed you shouldn’t forget the past, and you should plan for the future, but you should always live in the moment the “here and now.”

His loved ones, family and friends will always remember Pat for his warm and infectious smile, his joy for life, his loyalty and strength, and for his personal integrity. He had the ability to make everyone around him feel special. Pat lived with a wonderful simplicity, humbly respecting everyone dear to him. He was a man whose company and friendship were cherished and sought after. He will be remembered as a true “good man.”

The family thanks the many healthcare angels, beginning with Dr. Lasala, who cared for Pat over the years. Visiting hours will be from 4-7 pm on Tuesday, Nov. 1 at the West Haven Funeral Home at the Green. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 12 pm Wednesday, Nov. 2 in St. Therese Church, Middletown Ave., North Haven, CT. Entombment will follow in All Saints Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to Smilow Cancer Research and/or the Notre Dame Class of ‘61 Memorial Scholarship Fund. To leave an online condolence, please visit our website www.westhavenfuneral.com.