Sebastian Anthony Santiglia

Sebastian Anthony Santiglia, 86, known by many as “Checkers” passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family on May 29, 2018 after a courageous battle with brain cancer. Subby led an exceptional life and was a beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend. All who met him were touched and changed by his kindness, optimism and unselfishness. He valued his many wonderful friends and maintained close and personal relationships developed over his lifetime. He was a warm, caring, genuine man with a wonderful sense of humor. His passion for life and enjoyment of the moment was contagious to all who spent time with him and people loved to be around him. He was a constant pillar of support, advice and wisdom to all and will be greatly missed. Subby was the son of the late Pasquale and Carmela (Indomenico) Santiglia, who hailed from Floridia, providence of Siracusa, Italy and came through Ellis Island at the turn of the century. Born in Hartford, on New Year’s Day, 1932, Subby grew up on the Eastside of Hartford on old Front Street and Charles Street. He attended Henry Barnard School and Hartford Public High School from which he graduated in 1950, after having captained the baseball team and playing varsity basketball. Checkers played third base and was one of the best hitters for Hartford High, having set a record for runs-batted-in during the 1950 season. During his years on the team, HPHS won the Triangular League Championship Title three times and the City Scholastic Baseball Title twice. Subby was inducted into the Hartford Public High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2006 which recognizes graduates who through outstanding performance and achievement in the field of athletics have brought great credit to HPHS, themselves and the Hartford Community. This was an honor he was extremely proud of. Following his top performance on the diamond for his high school, Subby played professional baseball with the Philadelphia Phillies, Fitzgerald Pioneers team in Georgia, at third base, before joining the Navy to fulfill his military obligation. He served in the U.S. Navy, Medical Corps Special Services Division from 1952-1956, soon becoming an outstanding performer for the Quonset Navy Flyers baseball team of Quonset, Rhode Island, again playing third base. Captain of the team, voted most valuable player for two years, two-time First Naval District Championship Title player, New England Inter-Service Baseball Championship Title player and twice a member of the New England Navy All-Star Team, Subby’s First Naval District Batting Crown record of .352 still stands. Upon discharge from the Navy in 1956, Subby received a full sports scholarship to Hillyer College/University of Hartford. As a standout performer for the varsity baseball team, playing third base, he led the Hawks in 1957, winning the U of H Batting Title with a .366 batting average, and led the team in runs-batted-in, total hits and doubles. He served as captain in 1958 and 1959 and posted a batting average of .409, placing him among the state’s top ten hitters. In 1960, upon graduation from U of H with a BS Degree in Business Administration, Subby became a manager of sales promotion for Narragansett Brewing Company, winning the Top Salesman Award in 1962. He was later employed at Hamilton Standard, Division of United Aircraft as a Contract Administrator. Subby’s desire to work in a job where he could be of assistance to his fellow citizens led him, in 1964, to join the City of Hartford’s Department of Social Services where he served for 15 years, first as a case worker, rising through the department to later become a supervisor. In 1970, Subby received his Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Connecticut with additional training being obtained at Yale. He was a member of the National Association of Social Workers, and in addition to holding his municipal position, Subby was a Field Placement Supervisor for the University of Connecticut Graduate School of Social Work and the Manchester Community College Public Service Careers Program. He also provided assistance for students at the American School for the Deaf. In 1979, Subby was designated Deputy Town Clerk of Hartford. This was followed in 1981, by his appointment to the position of Town and City Clerk of Hartford, an honored position in which he served for 12 years. He was licensed a Certified Municipal Clerk in 1986, was a member of the International Institute of Municipal Clerks, a member of the Academy for Advanced Education, a member of the CT Town Clerk’s Association, and selected as an honored member of Who’s Who in Government Service. During his time as Town and City Clerk, Subby was instrumental in being part of the delegation to establish the “Sister City Program” between the City of Hartford and the City of Floridia, Sicily to promote an alliance of communication to benefit both cities socially, economically and culturally. This proud association remains to this day. Subby retired after 28 years of municipal government service in 1992. Always proud to represent the City of Hartford and offer his assistance to its citizens, he was remembered for “his integrity, high ideals, compassion, sensitivity, impeccable attire and signature cigar.” With a passion for sports and athletics, Checkers inspired, trained and touched the lives of countless numbers of young adults. As a Hartford Little League coach, specifically for Artie’s Cleaners, and a basketball referee, he created an environment of belonging, encouraging sport and healthy competition to create self-worth. Always a “city boy”, Subby and his wife, Eileen built a lovely lake house in Otis/Sandisfield, Massachusetts as a get-away for family and a place to relax. Remembered always will be his tremendous love for his family; year-round week, weekend and summer outings at their vacation home; card games; and gatherings with family as well as friends. He was an avid New York Yankees fan. He enjoyed immensely: celebrations large and small and for every holiday on the calendar, his Italian music and that of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, politics, golf games and tournaments with friends, and of course his signature cigar. His stories of Front Street and the Eastside of Hartford never failed to make it sound like the only place you wanted to grow up. The comaraderie of the Pallini Club members and his closeness to the myriad of his other life-long friends was a testament to the man he was and always a source of awe for his family. Subby was a member of the Pallini Club, the Sicilian Society, the First Friday Eastside Breakfast Club, South End Civic Association, former member of the Board of Directors for the South End Community Service Agency, former member of the Hartford Chapter of UNICO National, former member of Wethersfield Country Club, and the Italian American All-Stars of Hartford, Inc. Subby was a communicant originally of St. Patrick/St. Anthony Church and St. Luke Church of Hartford, later with Corpus Christi Church and currently Church of the Incarnation of Wethersfield. Subby ‘s family was his pride and joy and he basked in their love. Subby lovingly leaves his adoring wife of 56 years, Eileen (Gormley) - He was the love of her life and her rock; his two devoted daughters, Gloria Santiglia Stalph and Laura Santiglia Miele; their husbands, his proud sons-in-law Clifton Stalph and Mark Miele; and his three cherished grandchildren, Mason Stalph, Kayla Stalph and Morgan Miele who all adoringly called him “Pop-Pop”. Subby was predeceased by an infant sister, and also leaves his cousin Anthony Brancato and wife Angelina; cousin Pasquale Indomenico and wife Donna along with his brotherhood of friends whom he cherished. He will be deeply missed by all of those who knew and loved him. The family wishes to extend their deep appreciation and heartfelt thanks to Subby’s many “angels” who offered special care during his illness: Hartford Hospital and Subby’s many life-long doctors; the team of Neuro-Oncology, Surgery and Radiation; Starling Infusion Center; the Seabury Community and Rehab Facility; and Hartford Homecare. Their gentle care for Subby and comfort to the family will always be remembered. A special thank you to Subby’s friends who frequently visited, called and stayed in touch. He and his family are most appreciative of the caring sent his way, prayers and love. Relatives and friends may call at the D’Esopo Funeral Chapel, 227 Folly Brook Boulevard, Wethersfield on Friday, June 1, 2018 from 3 to 8 p.m. A celebration of Subby’s life, funeral service and Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 9 a.m. on Saturday, June 2, 2018 at Incarnation Church, 544 Prospect Street, Wethersfield. Everyone is asked to please go directly to the Church for services. Burial with military honors will be in Mount St. Benedict Cemetery, 1 Cottage Grove Rd, Bloomfield. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Wethersfield Dollars for Scholars for a scholarship set up in Subby’s name. Please mail donations to Dollars for Scholars, P.O. Box 290338, Wethersfield, CT 06109-0338 (indicate Sebastian Santiglia scholarship in the memo field of your check). Please honor Subby’s memory by carrying forward his legacy of caring and devout friendship by lending a hand to a friend in need. For online expressions of sympathy to the family, please visit www.desopo.com