Much to the disappointment of the far left, Americans have no reason to expect President Obama and Congress will let the government go off the "fiscal cliff." It's not so much they care about you or the economy or other potential collateral damage; they just love government too much and have too much to lose politically to let it happen.
Maybe they'll cut a deal in the lame-duck congressional session. More likely, they'll pass a patch that continues unsustainable spending and the Bush tax cuts until the new Congress convenes, because kicking the can down the road is what politicians do.
And if you find today's rhetoric and gamesmanship nauseating, just wait until Mr. Obama and Republicans in the House go at it next year. From the left, get ready to hear incessantly the Democrats simply want, as Mr. Obama puts it, to return to "the tax rates that we had when Bill Clinton was president." According to their narrative, the Clinton rates produced a balanced budget and a string of surpluses.
Heaven forfend "journalists," their loyalties squarely with tax-and-spend liberals, ever set the record straight:
At the time, the 1993 Clinton tax increases were the largest in the nation's history. It raised the top two income-tax brackets to 36 percent and 39.6 percent, and the corporate tax to 35 percent; eliminated the 2.9 percent cap on the Medicare payroll deduction; increased the taxable part of Social Security benefits; and boosted the gasoline tax by 4.3 cents a gallon.
The Clinton tax increases actually produced deficits because higher taxes never meet politicians' revenue projections; just ask Gov. Dannel P. Malloy. By 1997, politicians had added $1 trillion to the national debt. Red ink turned black only after the Republican-led Congress reduced tax rates and the pace of spending growth, sparking one of the most economically robust periods in U.S. history. Millions of Americans shared in the prosperity when unemployment fell from 6.1 percent in 1995 to 4.2 percent in 2000. Meanwhile, the stock market rose 130 percent, which enhanced the value of their nest eggs.
But Democrats will continue to connect "surpluses" and returning to the "tax rates that we had when Bill Clinton was president" to leave the false impression that if the government restores the higher rates on "the rich," happy fiscal days will be here again. Most assuredly, they will not.
For the moment, let's say the Democratic narrative is accurate. In inflation-adjusted dollars, the 1993 Clinton tax increase turned a $315 billion deficit when he took office to surpluses of $97 billion in 1998 (the year after the GOP tax reductions), $173 billion in 1999, $315 billion in 2000 and $164 billion in 2001 — before 9/11 and before the budget and the economy felt the full brunt of the 2000-01 recession.
But in 1998, the federal budget was about $1.7 trillion; the 2013 budget is $3.8 trillion, $1 trillion of which is funded by borrowing from the Red Chinese and others. According to the Congressional Budget Office's overestimate, returning to the "tax rates that we had when Bill Clinton was president" would increase revenues by $824 billion.
That sounds like a lot until you realize the projection covers a 10-year span when the government projects to spend $42.6 trillion and the accumulated debt will rise $9.2 trillion to $25.4 trillion. Restoring the Clinton rates would increase annual revenues by an average of just $82.4 billion, a pimple on the backside of the budget and deficit spending. And every penny would be sucked out of a feeble economy that's just one nudge away from going over the recession cliff.
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Mythology of the Clinton tax rates
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Mrs. Mary Lou Ciccarelli|Assistant manager at Naugatuck Savings
WATERBURY — Mrs. Mary Lou (Coogle) Ciccarelli, 65, of Waterbury, passed away unexpectedly Friday evening, Nov. 30, 2012, at the Waterbury Hospital. She was the wife of Leonard F. Ciccarelli Sr.
Mary Lou was born in Ossining, N.Y., on Aug. 6, 1947, a daughter of the late Jesse and Louise (Cole) Coogle, and had been a resident of Waterbury for the past 22 years. She was educated in the Ossining school system and was a graduate of Ossining High School, Class of 1966. She was a communicant of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish. She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother and enjoyed spending time with her family and grandchildren. She was employed as assistant manager of customer service at the Naugatuck Savings Bank for the past 11 years.
Besides her husband of 44 years, she leaves her children, Jessica M. Feurer of Connecticut, Leonard P. Ciccarelli of Goshen, Paula A. Loughlin of Naugatuck and Mark A. Ciccarelli of Waterbury; eight grandchildren, Stephen Hensly, Mason Feurer, Olivia Loughlin, Mackenna Feurer, Luke Loughlin, Chase Ciccarelli, Calli Ciccarelli and Lyla Ciccarelli.
Private services will be held at the convenience of the family. There are no calling hours. The Alderson Funeral Home of Naugatuck, 201 Meadow St., is in charge of arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Easter Seals, 22 Tomkins St., Waterbury, CT 06708. For further information or to send an online condolence, go to www.aldersonfuneralhomes.com.
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Edward F. Nelson Jr.|Memorial gathering Tuesday
OAKVILLE — Edward F. Nelson Jr. of Oakville passed away unexpectedly at his home Friday, Nov. 23, 2012.
Edward was born July 10, 1962, in Waterbury, a son of Edward Nelson Sr. and Sharon Vinzant and attended local schools until his move to Washington state, where he enlisted in the U.S.A.F. His hobbies included computers and electronics.
He is survived by his father, Edward F Nelson Sr. of Watertown, and brother, Dwayne E. Nelson, with whom he shared a home; his mother, Sharon Vinzant, and sister, Tracy Montgomery of Tacoma, Wash. He also leaves his daughter, Crystal Lynn Nelson, and son, Edward F Nelson III, both of Quinnesec, Mich.
A memorial gathering will be held on Tuesday evening from 5 to 7 p.m. at the O'Neill Funeral Home, 742 Main St., Oakville. There are no calling hours. The O'Neill Funeral Home has been entrusted to assist his family with arrangements.
For additional information or to send an online condolence to his family, kindly visit the funeral home's website at www.oneillfuneralhome.com.
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Closing of the American mind
WASHINGTON — In 2007, Keith John Sampson, a middle-aged student working his way through Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis as a janitor, was declared guilty of racial harassment. Without granting Sampson a hearing, the university administration — acting as prosecutor, judge and jury — convicted him of "openly reading (a) book related to a historically and racially abhorrent subject."
"Openly." "Related to." Good grief.
The book, "Notre Dame vs. the Klan," celebrated the 1924 defeat of the Ku Klux Klan in a fight with Notre Dame students. But some of Sampson's co-workers disliked the book's cover, which featured a black-and-white photograph of a Klan rally. Someone was offended, therefore someone else must be guilty of harassment.
This non sequitur reflects the right never to be annoyed, a new campus entitlement. Legions of administrators, who now outnumber full-time faculty, are kept busy making students mind their manners, with good manners understood as conformity to liberal politics.
Liberals are most concentrated and untrammeled on campuses, so look there for evidence of what, given the opportunity, they would do to America. Ample evidence is in "Unlearning Liberty: Campus Censorship and the End of American Debate" by Greg Lukianoff, 38, a graduate of Stanford Law School who describes himself as a liberal, pro-choice, pro-gay rights, lifelong Democrat who belongs to "the notoriously politically correct Park Slope Food Co-Op in Brooklyn" and has never voted for a Republican, "nor do I plan to." But as president of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE), he knows the most common justifications for liberal censorship are "sensitivity" about "diversity" and "multiculturalism," as academic liberals understand those things.
In recent years, a University of Oklahoma vice president has declared no university resources, including email, could be used for "the forwarding of political humor/commentary." The College at Brockport in New York banned using the Internet to "annoy or otherwise inconvenience" anyone. Rhode Island College prohibited, among many other things, certain "attitudes." Texas Southern University's comprehensive proscriptions included "verbal harm" from damaging "assumptions" or "implications." Texas A&M promised "freedom from indignity of any type." Davidson banned "patronizing remarks." Drexel University forbade "inappropriately directed laughter." Western Michigan University banned "sexism," including "the perception" of a person "not as an individual, but as a member of a category based on sex." Banning "perceptions" must provide full employment for the burgeoning ranks of academic administrators.
Many campuses congratulate themselves on their broad-mindedness when they establish small "free speech zones" where political advocacy can be scheduled. At one point, Texas Tech's 28,000 students had a "free speech gazebo" that was 20 feet wide. And you thought the First Amendment made America a free speech zone.
At Tufts, a conservative newspaper committed "harassment" by printing accurate quotations from the Quran and a verified fact about the status of women in Saudi Arabia. Lukianoff says Tufts may have been the first American institution "to find someone guilty of harassment for stating verifiable facts directed at no one in particular."
He documents how "orientation" programs for freshmen become propaganda to (in the words of one orthodoxy enforcer) "leave a mental footprint on their consciousness." Faculty, too, can face mandatory consciousness-raising.
In 2007, Donald Hindley, a politics professor at Brandeis, was found guilty of harassment because when teaching Latin American politics, he explained the origin of the word "wetbacks," which refers to immigrants crossing the Rio Grande. Without a hearing, the university provost sent Hindley a letter stating that the university "will not tolerate inappropriate, racial and discriminatory conduct." The assistant provost was assigned to monitor Hindley's classes "to ensure that you do not engage in further violations of the nondiscrimination and harassment policy." Hindley was required to attend "anti-discrimination training."
Such coercion is a natural augmentation of censorship. Next comes mob rule.
Last year, at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the vice provost for diversity and climate — really; you can't make this stuff up — encouraged students to disrupt a news conference by a speaker opposed to racial preferences. They did, which the vice provost called "awesome." This is the climate on an especially liberal campus that celebrates "diversity" in everything but thought.
"What happens on campus," Lukianoff says, "doesn't stay on campus" because censorship has "downstream effects." He quotes a sociologist whose data he says demonstrate that "those with the highest levels of education have the lowest exposure to people with conflicting points of view." This encourages "the human tendency to live within our own echo chambers." Parents' tuition dollars and student indebtedness are paying for this. Good grief.
George Will (georgewill@washpost.com) is a syndicated columnist.
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Left-wing ideas are dominant on campus
This is in response to Ghassan E. El-Eid's Nov. 21 letter, "CCSU students who met Ahmadinejad weren't 'brainwashed.'"
It's been a long time since I have read such a self-serving, disingenuous piece of claptrap as Professor El-Eid's defense of his and his students' dinner with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
When equal time is given to conservatives to address university students to, in the words of Professor El-Eid, "expose students to different ideas and to encourage them to think critically about global issues," he may have a leg to stand on.
I am not a Zionist. I am a WASP. I have no ax to grind.
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Jose D. Franquez|Handy Harmon Co. retiree
NAUGATUCK — Mr. Jose D. Franquez, age 85, passed away Saturday, Dec. 1, 2012, at Beacon Brook Health Center. He was husband to Dorothy (Dwinells) Franquez.
Jose was born in Camuy, Puerto Rico on May 13, 1927, son of the late Pedro and Paula Mercado. He was a longtime resident of Naugatuck and Bridgeport. He had retired as a welder from Handy Harmon Company in Fairfield where he worked for more than 20 years. Jose had also worked at Bridgeport Hospital for 35 years.
Besides his wife of 53 years, he leaves two sons, Fred Franquez of Queens, N.Y., and Joel Franquez of Naugatuck; two daughters, Darlene Franquez and Jenny Lou Meyers, both of Naugatuck; several grandchildren, great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2012, at 10 a.m. at St. James Cemetery, Cross Street, Naugatuck. The Naugatuck Valley Memorial/Fitzgerald Zembruski Funeral Home, 240 North Main St., Naugatuck, is assisting the family with arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Waterbury Hospital, Pomeroy Unit, 64 Robbins St., Waterbury, CT 06708. To send an online condolence, please visit www.naugatuckvalleymemorial.com.
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Thomas T. Murphy|Retired Catholic Charities financial director
WATERBURY — Thomas T. Murphy, 60, of Waterbury, husband of Debbie (Cordeau) Murphy, died Friday, Nov. 30, 2012, at Saint Mary's Hospital after a long battle with brain cancer.
Tom was born in Waterbury on Feb. 1, 1952, son of the late Thomas "Joe" and Ruth (Tucker) Murphy. He was a lifelong Waterbury resident, having graduated from Kennedy High School, Class of 1970, and the University of New Haven in 1974. Tom retired in 2009 from Catholic Charities where he had worked as their financial director.
Tom was an avid sports fan, rooting for the Red Sox, Patriots and the UConn women's basketball team. One of his greatest joys was spending time with his family and friends. He was a communicant of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Naugatuck.
Besides his wife, Debbie, of 30 years, Tom is survived by his son, Patrick T. Murphy and his wife, Rebecca, of Westbrook; his daughter, Shelly-Ann Murphy of Waterbury; his sister, Janice Taylor of Florida; and several nieces and nephews.
The Murphy family would like to thank the staff at the Harold Leever Center for their care and support of Tom over the years.
Funeral will be Tuesday, Dec. 4, at 9 a.m. from the Murphy Funeral Home, 115 Willow St., Waterbury, to St. Francis of Assisi Church, 318 Church St., Naugatuck, for a Mass at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Waterbury. Friends may call at the funeral home on Monday from 4 to 7 p.m.
Memorial contributions: Harold Leever Regional Cancer Center, 1075 Chase Parkway, Waterbury, CT 06708; or St. Francis of Assisi Church Foundation, 318 Church St., Naugatuck, CT 06770.
Visit www.murphyfuneralhomect.com for more information or to send an online condolence.
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Mary Piechota|Retired from Pepco
TERRYVILLE — Mary (Garber) Piechota, 94, of Terryville, widow of Anthony S. Piechota, died Saturday, Dec. 1, 2012, at Countryside Manor, Bristol.
Mary was born Aug. 7, 1918, in Terryville. She was the daughter of the late Conrad and Mary (Mazak) Garber. She was a longtime resident of Terryville and had also lived in Plainville. Prior to her retirement in 1987, she was employed by Pepco of Plainville for 40 years. She was a communicant of St. Stanislaus Church, Bristol. She was a member of the Golden Agers, the Terryville-Plymouth Senior Citizens and was an active bowler.
Mary is survived by her brother, George Garber of Terryville, and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2012, from the Scott Funeral Home, 169 Main St., Terryville, to St. Stanislaus Church, Bristol, for a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. Burial will be in St. Michael Cemetery, Terryville. Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home Monday evening from 6 to 8 p.m.
The family would like to give special thanks and appreciation to the staff of Countryside Manor.
Memorial donations may be made to the Plymouth Ambulance Corps, 191 Main St., Terryville, CT 06786. www.scottfuneralhomeinc.com
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Janet A. Solury|Beloved sister and aunt
WATERBURY — Miss Janet A. Solury, 58, of 11 Armand Drive, passed away Saturday, Dec. 1, 2012, at Waterbury Hospital.
Janet was born in Waterbury on Dec. 31, 1953, daughter of the late Angelo and Donata (DeCrisanti) Solury. She enjoyed being visited by her mother. She liked being surrounded by her friends with whom she lived. She attended the Bidwell Center daily, loved Italian food, music, noise makers and watching her friends bowl.
She leaves one brother, Anthony J. Solury and his wife, Noel, of Salisbury, Md.; one sister, Marie Genovese and her husband, Michael, of Watertown; one uncle, Lawrence DeCrisanti of New York; two aunts, Natalie Greco of Middlebury and Dolores Jacovino of Waterbury; two nieces, Kristen Solury and her husband, Joe Sedony, of Melbourne, Australia, and Theresa Claxton and her husband, Greg, of Nashville, Tenn.; and a great-niece, Ellie Claxton. Also to cherish her memories are her group home family, Cheryl and her staff, her house mates, James Deile and David Banton, and friend, Miss Ann.
A funeral service will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Chase Parkway Memorial/The Albini Family Funeral Home, 430 Chase Parkway, Waterbury. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery. Calling hour will be held Tuesday from 10 a.m. until the time of service at the funeral home.
For more information or to send e-condolences, visit www.chaseparkwaymemorial.com.
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John E. Werner|Former Woodbury treasurer
WOODBURY — John E. (Jack) Werner passed away Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2012.
He was born and raised in Webster Groves, Mo., and was a graduate of Georgia Tech, Washington University and University of Illinois. He was a CPA for 45 years and spent his working career in banking and accounting.
Jack was an Army veteran serving in the Quartermaster's Office in Germany during the Vietnam War. He moved to Woodbury in October 1978. He served as treasurer, assistant treasurer and on the Board of Finance for the Town of Woodbury and as Santa Claus for the Junior Women's Club for many years. He was an avid sports fan and a lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan. He loved the game of golf and Formula One racing.
He will be dearly missed by Marylou, his wife of 40 years, his beloved daughter, Carrie, and his trusty dog, Randy. He is predeceased by his daughter, Sarah, his mother, father and sister.
A funeral Mass will be held Friday, Dec. 7, at 10 a.m. at St. Teresa's Church, Main Street South, Woodbury. Calling hours will be held Thursday, Dec. 6, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Woodbury Funeral Home of Munson-Lovetere, 2 School St.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Jack's name may be made to a charity of the donor's choice. To place an online condolence, please visit www.munsonloveterefuneralhome.com.
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Armand D. Padella|Owned Padella Machinery, longtime Northfield fireman
FORT MILL, S.C. — Armand D. Padella, fondly known as "Butch" by all those who knew and loved him, passed away on Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012 at the Wayne T. Patrick Hospice House in Rock Hill, S.C.; he was 65.
He was born in Waterbury, Conn. on Aug. 14, 1947 to Armand V. Padella and Agnes Padella, who are deceased. Butch was the owner and operator of Padella Machinery Inc. for 33 years.
As a successful businessman he enjoyed buying and selling machinery nationally and internationally. He was also very active as a volunteer fireman with the Northfield Fire Department with 25 years of service.
In 1976 he built a home in Northfield, Conn., where he raised his family. Butch and Barbara then built their dream home and moved to their favorite location on Highland Lake, Winsted, Conn. where they lived for four years.
They eventually moved to The Four Seasons development in Fort Mill, S.C., where they enjoyed their lives together.
Butch is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 43 years, Barbara Padella; his daughter, DeAnna Benson and her husband, Dave, of Charlotte, N.C.; and his son, Matthew Padella of Fort Myers, Fla.; grandchildren, Samantha and Emily Benson; sister, Theresa Poirier and her husband, Dave; nieces, Holly, Veronica and nephew, David.
All that knew Butch, knew his family was his life. His dedication to each and every one of his family members was immeasurable.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. today, Dec. 2, 2012 at the Palmetto Funeral Home located at 2049 Carolina Place Drive, Fort Mill, S.C. 29708.
Additional services to be held in Connecticut: Services will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012 at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 49 South St., Litchfield, Conn. 06759; immediately following will be a reception in his honor at the Northfield Firehouse at 12 Knife Shop Road in Northfield, Conn.
The family requests in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Northfield Fire Department, 12 Knife Shop Road, Northfield, CT 06778. Online condolences to the family may be made at www.palmettofh.com.
The family of Mr. Padella was served by Palmetto Funeral Home and Crematory of Fort Mill, S.C.
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Diane M. Demers|Heminway and Bartlett retiree
SOUTHBURY — Diane M. (Broniewski) Demers, age 62, of Georges Hill Road in Southbury, passed away with her three loving daughters by her side at Waterbury Hospital.
Diane was born Dec. 14, 1949, in Waterbury, a daughter of the late Frederick and Beatrice Broniewski, and lived in Oakville most of her life. She was a graduate of Waterbury Catholic High School. Prior to her retirement, Diane was employed at Heminway and Bartlett where she worked for over 20 years. Diane loved shopping and search-a-word puzzles.
She leaves three daughters, Tricia B. Sanford of Terryville, Doreen M. French of Thomaston and Brenda DiCorpo of Southbury; a brother, Frederick Broniewski Jr. of Naugatuck; two sisters, Marjorie Lebel of Plymouth and Janice Bird of Vermont; and eight grandchildren, Amanda, Jenna and Billy French, Norman, Brandon, Alyssa and David Sanford Jr. and Haley Lafreniere.
Funeral services and burial are private and at the convenience of her family. There are no calling hours. The O'Neill Funeral Home, 742 Main St., Oakville, has been entrusted to assist her family with arrangements.
To extend online expressions of sympathy to her family, light a memorial candle or for additional information, kindly visit the funeral home's website at www.oneillfuneralhome.com.
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Richard T. Fedor|Worked for DEP
MIDDLEBURY — Mr. Richard T. Fedor, 68, of Middlebury, passed away at Waterbury Hospital on Saturday, Dec. 1, 2012, surrounded by his family. He was the husband of Susan M. (Baker) Fedor.
Richard was born in Norwalk on Oct. 3, 1944, a son of the late Paul and Mary (Donch) Fedor. He lived in Middlebury for the past 35 years and worked for the DEP for 34 years as heavy machine operator and qualified craft worker. He built the Southford Falls covered bridge. He was a communicant of St. John of the Cross Church.
Besides his wife of Middlebury, he leaves his children, Richard T. Fedor Jr. and his wife, Juta, of Voluntown, Tracy Lynne Fedor Hagerty and her husband, Anthony, of Middlebury, Michael Weimar and his fiancee, Jo Lee Hughes, of Naugatuck and Timothy Fedor of Stratford; his brother, Edward Fedor and his wife, Carol, of New Preston Marble Dale; his sister, Patricia "Patty Lou" Fedor Denny and her husband, Ronald, of Moodus; seven grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012, at 11 a.m. at St. John of the Cross Church, Whittemore Road, Middlebury. Friends are asked to meet DIRECTLY at the church at 10:45 a.m. Burial will follow in Lake Elise Cemetery, Middlebury. Calling hours will be held at the Naugatuck Valley Memorial/Fitzgerald Zembruski Funeral Home, 240 North Main St., Naugatuck, on Tuesday evening from 4 to 8 p.m.
To send an online condolence, please visit www.naugatuckvalleymemorial.com.
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Edward S. McElroy Jr. Bristol Babcock retiree
SOUTHINGTON — Mr. Edward S. McElroy Jr., age 80, of Southington, died Friday, Nov. 30, 2012, at the Bradley Memorial Hospital in Southington. He was the husband of Roxie (Kirk) McElroy for 48 years.
Mr. McElroy was born in Naugatuck on June 2, 1932, son of the late Edward S. McElroy Sr. and the late Nellie (Downs) McElroy. He was retired from Bristol Babcock where he had worked as an electrician for 39 years. He enjoyed traveling and electronics and cherished most of all the time that he spent with his loving family.
Besides his wife, Mr. McElroy is survived by four daughters, Brenda Vieira and her husband, Frank, of Prospect, Sandra Rychalsky of Torrington, Kim Desaulniers and her companion, Craig Duncan, of Torrington and Kathy Kelleher and her husband, John, of Middlefield; one sister, Vivien Abel of Wolcott; three grandchildren, Christopher Rychalsky and his wife, Colleen, Steven J. Rychalsky and his wife, Leslie, and Jennifer Cohen; and two great-grandchildren, Ava Cohen and Paige Rychalsky.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012, at 10 a.m. at the Buckmiller Brothers Funeral Home, 26 Waterbury Road, Route 69, Prospect. Burial will be in Grove Cemetery in Naugatuck. Calling hours will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2012, from 3 to 5 p.m. at the funeral home.
For more information and online condolences, please log on to www.buckmillerbrothers.com.
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Furthermore
Powered by coal It's back to the future for General Motors, which is introducing its first coal-powered model since the 1980s. An all-electric version of the Chevrolet Spark, a diminutive car best suited for urban environments, debuted last week at the Los Angeles Auto Show. It costs about $25,000, double the price of a gasoline-powered Spark — and that's after accounting for the $7,500 tax credit extracted from defenseless taxpayers. Although widely viewed as zero-emissions vehicles, the electric Spark, Nissan Leaf and a handful of other all-electric cars are primarily coal-fired, since 42 percent of the electricity used to recharge their batteries is generated by coal-burning power plants. And one can only shudder to contemplate the quantities of gasoline, diesel fuel, coal and other fossil-fuel sources that will be required to build the charging stations and other urban infrastructure to make these tiny cars viable in the real world.
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Henry G. (Vigor) Veilleux Jr.|Siemon Co. retiree
OAKVILLE — Henry G. (Vigor) Veilleux Jr., age 84, of Edith Street, passed away Nov. 30, 2012, at Waterbury Hospital with his loving wife by his side. He was the husband of Katie A. (Crownshaw) Veilleux.
Hank was born Nov. 16, 1928, in Waterbury, a son of the late Henry G. and Yvonne (Greenwood) Veilleux Sr., and was a lifelong Oakville resident. He was a graduate of Watertown High School. Prior to his retirement in 2006, Hank was employed as a warehouse worker and truck driver at the Siemon Company in Watertown for 19 years. He had also worked for Malcolm Baldridge at his farm in Woodbury for almost 20 years. He loved to ride his motorcycle, was a former member of the Woodbury Volunteer Fire Department and loved to go on tailgate picnics with his wife.
Besides his wife of 32 years of Oakville, he leaves two sons, Joseph Veilleux of Florida and Guy Veilleux of Woodbury; two daughters, Debra Shupenis of Waterbury and Nancy Veilleux of Oakville; a brother, Walter Veilleux of Arizona; a sister, Shirley O'Connell of Thomaston; three grandchildren, Joseph, Jeffrey and Michael; and his beloved dog, Molly.
Funeral Tuesday at 11 a.m. at the O'Neill Funeral Home, 742 Main St., Oakville. Burial will follow in Woodbury Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home on Monday evening from 5 to 7 p.m. The O'Neill Funeral Home has been entrusted to assist his family with arrangements.
To extend online expressions of sympathy to his family, light a memorial candle or for additional information, kindly visit the funeral home's website at www.oneillfuneralhome.com.
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Gerald T. Radke|Dedicated family man
WATERBURY — Gerald T. "Jake" Radke, age 69, of Amity Road, Bethany, former longtime Waterbury resident, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Dec. 1, 2012, at Saint Mary's Hospital, surrounded by his loving family after a courageous battle with cancer. He was the husband of Betsy (Bunnell) Radke.
Jake was born April 25, 1943, in Waterbury, the son of the late Gerald and Mary (Stack) Radke. He was educated in local schools and was a professional painter by trade. Jake was happiest in life surrounded by his loving family, especially his wife, daughter and grandchildren.
Jake was celebrating his 32nd year of sobriety, and he was very active in Alcoholics Anonymous as a sponsor. Jake's commitment to recovery and sobriety was represented by the literally hundreds of people he helped throughout his years in the program as well as countless others he lent a hand to. Jake was only a phone call away and was always there for those that needed or depended on him. He was happiest when surrounded by or in the midst of his family. He was an avid Yankees and Washington Redskins fan. He will be missed by those that knew him, loved him or depended on him.
Besides his devoted wife of 25 years, Jake is survived by his daughter, Robyn J. Broadus and her husband, Thomas, of Terryville; his two grandchildren, Thomas John and Cara Jeanette Broadus; his sister, Geraldine Radke of Chicago, Ill.; his two nephews, James and Daniel Silva, and his niece, Caitlyn Radke. He also leaves his extended family, Greg and MaryAnn Bunnell, Mario and Sally Silva, Jeff Bunnell, Maureen Andria, Debbie Radke, and several cousins and many friends. He was predeceased by his brother, Thomas Radke.
Jake's family would like to express their deep appreciation to the staff of Xavier 3 at Saint Mary's Hospital, the staff at the Harold Leever Regional Cancer Center, as well as Dr. Jega for the dedicated, professional care they each provided to Jake and his family during his illness. In grateful appreciation, memorial donations in Jake's memory may be made to Saint Mary's Hospital, Xavier 3 Unit, 56 Franklin St., Waterbury, CT 06706.
Funeral services for Jake will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2012, at 10 a.m. at the Casey-O'Donnell Family Funeral Home, 1581 East Main St., Waterbury. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery. Family and friends may visit at the funeral home on Monday evening from 4 to 7 p.m.
To extend online expressions of sympathy to the family or for additional information, kindly visit the funeral home's website at www.caseyodonnell.com.
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Earl F. Robinson Jr.|Member of American Legion, Elks
NAUGATUCK — Earl F. Robinson Jr., age 79, of Fairwood Road, passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012, with his beloved wife, Sandra, by his side.
Earl was born July 31, 1933, in Waterbury, the son of the late Earl F. Robinson Sr. and Ann (Satula) Robinson. He was raised in the Bethlehem and Oxford areas and worked as a truck driver for Timex Corporation for many years before his retirement.
He proudly served his country with the U.S. Army during the Korean War conflict and was involved with many civic organizations, including the Southbury Business Association where he formerly served as president, the American Legion Post 0147 in Southbury and the Elks Lodge No. 967 in Naugatuck where he was a trustee and chairman of the House Committee. He also was a member of the Waterbury Deep Sea Fishing Club and served as secretary. Earl enjoyed NASCAR racing, hunting, fishing, and traveling with his wife.
Besides his wife, Sandra, of 30 years, he is survived by his children, Matt Knapik and his fiancee, Karly Arnold, of Virginia Beach, Va.; his daughter, Heather and her husband, Tony Grillo, of Beacon Falls; his brothers, Robert and David Robinson of Oxford; his sisters, Judy Perugini of Middlebury and Joyce Skowronski of Sandy Hook; as well as his grandchildren, Jared, Sydney, Josh and Austin. He is predeceased by his brothers, James, Donald and Frankie Robinson.
Services for Mr. Robinson will be held at the convenience of the family. There are no calling hours. In grateful appreciation for the care that was provided to the Robinson family, memorial donations in Earl's memory may be made to VNA Healthcare Hospice, 50 Brookside Road, Waterbury, CT 06708.
The Casey-O'Donnell Family Funeral home has been entrusted to assist the family with the arrangements. To extend online expressions of sympathy to the family or for additional information, kindly visit the funeral home's website at www.caseyodonnell.com.
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Mrs. Eleanor Parks|Passed away Friday
WATERBURY — Mrs. Eleanor (Hoggson) Parks, 96, passed away Friday, Nov. 30, 2012, at Saint Mary's Hospital.
Eleanor was born on Aug. 6, 1916, in Norwalk, daughter of the late Samuel and Rose (Hollam) Hoggson.
She is survived by her three grandchildren, Kim Lanteri and her husband, Michael, of Waterbury, Jeffrey J. Papallo of Southington, Greg Papallo and his wife, Maria, of Gainesville, Fla.; and four great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her daughter, Patricia Shove.
All funeral services are private. There are no calling hours. Arrangements are under the care of the Bergin Funeral Home, 290 E. Main St., Waterbury.
To leave an online message of condolence, or to share a memory or photo, please visit Eleanor's page at www.berginfuneralhome.com.
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Carnemolla
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Carnemolla of Watertown celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a renewal of vows at Blessed Sacrament Church in Waterbury and a party given by their children at Juniper's Restaurant in Middlebury. Mr. and Mrs. Carnemolla were married Sept. 1, 1962, at Blessed Sacrament Church in Waterbury. They have four children, Maureen Ziegler, Frank Carnemolla and Lisa Perugini of Watertown and Cheryl Bernier of Wolcott, and eight grandchildren.
Mrs. Carnemolla is the former Joan Brown.
Contributed
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