Lewis Mostowy
East Lyme — Lewis Joseph Mostowy, formerly of 42 Mostowy Road, East Lyme, passed away on Aug. 20, 2017, at Crescent Point in Niantic.
He was born June 20, 1929, at the home of his grandmother, Helen Kram. She lived at Kram’s Corner on Walnut Hill. Grandma Kram was the neighborhood midwife. She delivered many babies in that area. Hence the name of the section of town, Kram’s Corner. Lewis was the son of William Sr. and Anna Kram Mostowy of 16 Mostowy Road, East Lyme.
He was a true native son of East Lyme.
Lewis graduated from The Flanders School in Flanders, and Chapman Technical High School in New London, later to become New London High School. He had formed a polka band in his teens and played at several night clubs in the area. He played a wicked accordion!
After high school, he took up residence in Hartford and worked for a time at Royal Typewriter in Hartford.
With the country at war with North Korea, he joined the Navy and served on the USS Furse 882.
Due to his father’s accidental death on the farm, he was granted an honorable discharge to return home to manage the family dairy farm.
Lewis married his beloved wife, Regina Bernadette Maicki, on Oct. 17, 1953, at St. Matthias Church in East Lyme. They loved each other completely. He played the church organ at St. Matthias for 30 years, a joy close to his heart.
Lewis not only served his pastor, but his bishop for 16 years. He and his wife served as chairpersons for the annual bishop’s drive at St. Matthias. In their final year of service, they served as chairpersons for the New London deanery.
In a treasured position of trust, he has served his church as trustee for over 40 years.
Lewis retired from the Monsanto company after serving nearly 30 years in Deep River. He held the position of safety supervisor. After retirement from Monsanto, he was chairman of the board of finance in East Lyme and and served as a member of the zoning board of appeals.
Lewis and Regina enjoyed a wonderful life. For several years, he and his wife drove for TVCCA, delivering meals on wheels. After raising their four children, Lew retired and they joyfully spent the next 15 years traveling to many countries.
As the children moved into high school, the band parents’ organization took his interest. The couple followed the Viking Band up and down the east coast. In 1980, the couple co-chaired the band parents’ Christmas festival.
Lewis was also a fan of the UConn Huskies basketball teams and the Boston Red Sox.
He will be sadly missed by his devoted wife of 64 years, Regina, and their daughters, Roma Ann and husband, Donnie Porter, of Newport News, Va., and Debbie Lynn and husband, Ret. Col. David K. Dunning, of Memphis, Tenn.; and sons, Lewis Mostowy of New London, and Mark and wife, Susan Lagasse Mostowy, of Mansfield Center. He leaves his 13 grandchildren, Sarah and Andrew Porter, of Newport News, Va., Regina and husband, Carlos Chaves, of Ft. Hood, Texas, Jose and Estevan Loredo of Denver, Colo., Daniel Mostowy of New London, David Mostowy of Albuquerque, N.M., Michael Mostowy of Middletown, and Jason Mostowy of Galveston, Texas; and seven great-grandchildren, Austin Chaves and Chris Chaves and his wife of Ft. Hood, Texas, Bernadette Loredo, Abby Mangham, Kyleigh and Rylee Loredo, all of Denver, Colo.; and one great-great grandchild, Gina Chaves of Ft. Hood, Texas. Lewis was predeceased in September 2001 by great-grandson, one-week-old James Loredo.
Lewis leaves one brother, Milton and his wife, Nancy, of Niantic, and his sister, Irene Mostowy Kowalski and her husband, Walter, of East Lyme. Lewis was predeceased by two brothers, William Jr. of East Lyme and Raymond of Montville; and two sisters, Martha Mostowy Hagstrom of East Lyme and Helen Mostowy Muscarella of Quaker Hill.
The family will receive relatives and friends from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 24, at St. Matthias Church, Chesterfield Road, East Lyme.
A Mass of Christian Burial, with military honors, will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 25, at St. Matthias in East Lyme. Entombment will follow in St. Mary’s Mausoleum Chapel at St. Mary’s Cemetary on Jefferson Ave. in New London.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations in his memory to the St. Matthias Building Fund.
The Thomas l. Neilan & Sons East Lyme Funeral Home, 48 Grand St., Niantic is assisting the family with the arrangements.
To send the family an online condolence or to view Mr. Mostowy’s online video tribute, please visit www. neilanfuneralhome.com