The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)

John Ursone

01/13/2023

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John Richard Ursone, 78, of Redington Shores, FL, and formerly of Winsted, CT, passed away peacefully with his family by his side on January 13, 2023 in Clearwater, FL, after a brief illness. He was born March 8, 1944 to the late Frank D. Ursone, M.D. and Clementina (D’Angelo) Ursone. He was the husband of Sanda (Dalzell) Ursone for 54 years. They met in college 58 years ago and he never looked back; they were truly the love of each other’s lives.

John grew up in Norfolk, CT. He maintained close relationsh­ips with many childhood friends, and enjoyed taking his family on drives through town, recounting fond and humorous memories of his youth. He graduated from Cushing Academy, and then Rollins College in Winter Park, FL, with a B.A. in sociology and a M.A. in teaching. While he never formally worked as an educator, countless family members, friends, and coworkers talk of how much he taught them.

After graduate school, John enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving four years that included a tour on the U.S.S. Little Rock. He was a lifelong member of the U.S.S. Little Rock Associatio­n and a very proud veteran.

John began his 37-year career in banking as a loan officer with Connecticu­t Bank & Trust in Winsted, Torrington, and Avon, CT. He then worked as Senior

Vice President and Commercial Loan Officer at Advest Bank in Hartford until he joined Winsted Savings Bank (later named Northwest Community Bank) in 1994 as Senior Vice President and Senior Loan Officer. He believed strongly in the spirit of our local community and the value a community bank could add to it. He was instrument­al in establishi­ng the Connecticu­t Mutual Holding Company, an umbrella that allowed Northwest Community Bank and Litchfield Bancorp and later, Collinsvil­le Savings Society to be collective­ly stronger and more efficient. He rose to Chief Lending Officer, then Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, and in 2006 was named President and CEO of Northwest Community Bank, from which he retired in 2009.

Throughout his career he served on multiple boards, often as treasurer, including Bankers Bank NE, the Beardsley & Memorial Library, the NW CT Community

College Foundation, the NW CT Community Foundation, Rollins College Alumni Board, St. Anthony’s School, the Warner Theatre, the William C. Barclay Fund, and the Winsted Playground Associatio­n.

John led an active and social life together with Sanda, keeping a home where friends knew they were always welcome to visit. John was an avid motorcycli­st and car enthusiast, spending many weekends riding his Harley alongside Sanda on hers, or tooling around in one of several convertibl­es he owned throughout his life. It was common to find him tinkering around in the garage, wearing a beret when the weather turned. For years he commuted the one mile to work in a shirt and tie on his Vespa, with his briefcase secured to the rear by a bungee cord. After his retirement, John and Sanda made Florida their home, building many friendship­s with their neighbors at Shore Mariner Condominiu­m.

In addition to his parents, John was predecease­d by his siblings, Maria U. Stewart, Frank D. Ursone, and Paula U. Lombardi, as well as two nephews, Ken Lombardi and Norman T. Stewart, Jr., and a niece, Laura (Lombardi) Riley. He leaves Sanda, their children Dom (Gigette) Ursone and Ruth (Antonio) Napoleone, and five fantastic grandchild­ren, Greyson, Brailey and Marella Ursone,

and Marco and Riker Napoleone, all of Winsted. He considered his children and grandchild­ren his and Sanda’s greatest legacy, instilling in them the values of hard work, honesty, philanthro­py, and having fun. He also leaves four nieces and one nephew: Maria Ann Moscaritol­o, John Stewart, Tracey Stewart, Lisa Glen, and Paula Krol.

Forever a man with foresight, he purchased a house on Highland Lake in Winsted over a decade ago to create a home base where he and Sanda, their children, and grandchild­ren, along with many friends and extended family members, spent the summer months swimming, boating, eating, laughing, and enjoying everyday moments together.

The family extends their heartfelt appreciati­on to the team at Morton Plant Hospital for their care and compassion.

Calling hours will be held February 8, 4–7pm at Montano-Shea Funeral Home, 922 Main Street, Winsted. A Mass of Christian burial will be held February 9, 2023 at 11am at Immaculate Conception Church, 4 North Street, Norfolk. A private burial with military honors will be held in the spring.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in John’s memory to the American Mural Project, PO Box 538, Winsted, CT 06098, or St. Joseph Church, 31 Oak Street, Winsted, CT 06098.

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