Benedict Joseph Mennillo

Benedict “Ben” Mennillo, 99, of East Hartford passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 9, 2022. Born in Hartford on November 27, 1922, to Nicholas and Josephine (Cretella) Mennillo, he had lived in East Hartford since 1958. He was a graduate of Hartford Public High School, class of 1940 and the Hartford Institute of Accounting, and later was a proud veteran of the U.S. Army during World War II.

He met his beloved wife Genevieve – they were Ben and Gen to one and all – on the bus to and from the Teachers College of Connecticut (now Central Connecticut State University) and they were married from 1948 until her passing in 1996.

He worked at the Resolute Insurance Company in Hartford until, heeding the call of the outdoors, he became a letter carrier and walked his route in the Burnside Avenue and Main Street areas of East Hartford for nearly 30 years.

In retirement, Ben volunteered for the Friends of the Library, East Hartford Historical Society, East Hartford American Revolution Bicentennial Commission, Meals on Wheels and Hartford Hospital, and at the polls on Election Day.

Ben loved his solitary pursuits: keeping a weather log, writing a daily journal, taking long strolls, and listening to ball games. However he was happiest when he was with other people, whether walking his longtime mail route or, in retirement, serving in various volunteer roles

He was an avid fan of the Hartford Chiefs, Boston Braves and Red Sox baseball; New England/Hartford Whalers hockey; Insurance City Open/Greater Hartford Open/Travelers Championship golf; famed boxers such as Willie Pep, Bat Battalino and Kid Kaplan; UConn, East Hartford Explorers and Hartford Capitols basketball; Dovelettes fast-pitch softball; Hartford Knights and Charter Oaks, and New York Giants football; and the Manchester Road Race.

Ben was also a member of the National Association of Letter Carriers, The National Association of Retired Federal Employees and the Democratic Party.

He was predeceased by his parents; his brother, Joseph Mennillo, and sister, Vincenza (Mennillo) Bilodeau both of West Hartford. He is survived by his son Thomas J. Mennillo and his wife Kim of Newington; his daughter, Lynn S. Mennillo of East Hartford with whom he made his home; two grandchildren, Seth Mennillo and his wife Sheri of Natick, MA, and Caitlin (Mennillo) Kaneshiro and her husband Jay of Lake Forest, CA; four great grandchildren; Jain and Sofia Kaneshiro and Olivia and Lucas Mennillo; several nieces, nephews, and dear friends.

Funeral service will be Saturday (July 16, 2022) at 10 am at D’Esopo East Hartford Memorial Chapel, 30 Carter Street, East Hartford. Burial with military honors will follow at Mount Saint Benedict Cemetery, (Section W), Bloomfield. Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home chapel on Friday (July 15, 2022) from 4 – 6:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Ben’s name may be made to Foodshare of Connecticut, 450 Woodland Avenue, Bloomfield, CT 06002. For on-line expressions of sympathy to the family, please visit www.desopoeh.com.