Francis Thomas Ragonese, 90, of Rocky Hill, formerly of Pine Lane, Wethersfield, loving husband of Dorothy P. (Violette) Ragonese, passed away peacefully on Monday, May 3, 2021 at Hartford Hospital with his family by his side.
Born on March 13, 1931 in Hartford, he was the son of the late Thomas and Maria (Grasso) Ragonese. Frank grew up in the North End of Hartford during the Great Depression. He attended St. Joseph Cathedral, graduated from Weaver High School, and Manchester Community College with an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice. In 1951, he joined the U.S. Coast Guard and served his country honorably during the Korean War. Following his military service, Frank began his career at the Wethersfield Police Department where he served for 26 years, retiring as a sergeant in 1982. Upon his retirement, he took a job at Travelers Insurance where he worked for 10 years investigating fraudulent claims. Frank continued working as a state marshal until the age of 85, when he shifted his entire focus to spending time with the ones he loved. He was actively involved in the Wethersfield Democratic Town Committee and the Wethersfield Game Club. He coached on the Wethersfield Little League, and attended as many of his children and grandchildren’s school and sporting events as he could. Frank was incredibly proud of his Italian heritage and Roman Catholic faith. He had a way of lighting up every room he stepped in and an ability to make every conversation feel like the most important. Much of his life was devoted to helping others and he made friends everywhere he went. Frank was often referred to as “Officer Friendly” and known by many as “Rags”. The fondest memories and most cherished times though, were the many summers that he spent with family and friends at their beach home in Maine, and winters at Cocoa Beach, Florida.
In addition to his wife of 60 years, Frank is survived by a son, Thomas Ragonese and his wife Pamela of Newington; a daughter, Paula Morgan and her husband Christopher of Rocky Hill; four adored grandchildren, Benjamin and Kathryn Ragonese, and Christopher and Collin Morgan; a brother-in-law, James Violette and his wife Nancy; his fellow Coast Guard confidante and longtime friend who was like a brother to him, Joe Alvino and wife Jean, as well as many beloved cousins, nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by two sisters, N. Anne Randazzo and Roberta Mercadante and three brothers-in-law, Francis Mercadante, Kenneth Violette and Michael Violette.
The family would like to extend a special thanks to the Doctors, Nurses and Staff of Hartford Hospital for the compassionate care they provided throughout Frank’s illness.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Frank’s memory to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
Family and friends are invited to a walk-through visitation from 2 – 5 p.m. on Sunday (May 9th) at the D’Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Blvd., Wethersfield. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday (May 10th) at 10 a.m. at St. James Church (St. Josephine Bakhita Parish), 767 Elm Street, Rocky Hill. Everyone is asked to please meet directly at the church. Burial with military honors will follow in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Hartford. Masks are required for all services and social distancing guidelines must be adhered to.
To share a memory of Frank with his family, please visit www.desopofuneralchapel.com.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18