Daniel A. Camilliere, 100, of Wethersfield, passed away on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 surrounded by his adoring family. He was the loving husband of Rose (DiSilvestro) Camilliere for 66 years. Born in Hartford on March 23, 1922, he was the son of the late Anthony and Emilia (Gozzo) Camillieri. He attended all Hartford public schools, graduating from Bulkeley High School in 1939. Dan attended The University of Connecticut College of Pharmacy which was located in New Haven at the time. He took the train daily from Hartford to New Haven to attend class in order to complete his Bachelor of Science Degree in 1943.
In July 1943, he enlisted in The United States Army and proudly served his country for three years. He was deployed to Paris, France as a Pharmacist at the 217th General Hospital. Dan also served as a pharmacist working alongside doctors on a medical train that carried wounded soldiers from Germany to France. After his service during WWII, he was honorably discharged in 1946. Dan always had a love for serving others, and serving his country was a significant honor. Upon his return to Hartford, he worked as a pharmacist at Javin’s Pharmacy in Hartford’s North End. In 1948, Dan, along with his brother-in-law, Carmelo Vasquez, opened the Rialto Pharmacy on Franklin Avenue. For nearly 40 years, they served and assisted many Italian immigrants using their native language to help them with medications and interpreting doctor’s orders. Rialto Pharmacy is an iconic South End memory for many due to the compassionate, dignified service they and their families always received.
Dan served as secretary of the Hartford Pharmaceutical Society and President of the Connecticut Pharmaceutical Society with over 1,000 pharmacists at that time. He was the recipient of many awards in his pharmacy profession, including the prestigious Bowl of Hygeia Award for outstanding work as a pharmacist and for exemplary community service. Dan always had another love besides pharmacy…it was politics. At a young age in school, he was always involved in student government, and that continued through high school and his college years as well. What drove Dan to politics was the desire to help people. He loved the art of negotiation and was up for the challenge to compromise. Dan saw the good in people and wanted to represent those who did not have a voice, or not as loud of a voice as his!
In 1953, Dan was asked to run for public office. He ran and won a seat on The Hartford City Council. At that time, he was the youngest person to ever serve on the City Council. He very much enjoyed his time serving the citizens of Hartford, and helped many people with improving their lives. Dan continued serving on the City Council until 1963, when he was asked by his friend and mentor, John Bailey, to run for State Senate.
Dan was elected to the Connecticut State Senate representing the 3rd District of Hartford for two terms, four years. He loved his time in the state senate and made many life-long friends from both the Democratic and Republican parties. In the state senate, he was Chairman of the Public Health Committee, and authored many important bills. To this day, the CDC recognizes two laws Dan championed as “Great Public Health Achievements” - the fluoridation of drinking water and the Connecticut Newborn Screening Program, with the introduction of PKU testing.
After leaving the state senate, Dan was appointed to the position of Chief of the Drug Division for the State of Connecticut’s Department of Consumer Protection and held it for several years. In 1956, Dan met the love of his life, Rose, who walked into his drug store on a Sunday and only a few months later they walked down the aisle together. They were married on November 22, 1956, at St. Augustine’s Church in Hartford, with a reception at the Statler Hotel in Hartford, for an amazing one thousand guests! With many dignitaries attending the reception, Rose enjoyed a special dance with then-Governor Abe Ribicoff.
In 1970, Dan and his family moved to Wethersfield. Here, Dan continued his civic involvement by joining the Wethersfield Democratic Town Committee, where he served as secretary for 17 years. At this time, Dan also served as an active member of the Democratic State Central Committee, and continued serving for over 25 years. In 1983, Dan was asked to run for Town Council and was elected to serve for the next twelve years. He proudly served two terms as the Mayor of Wethersfield. During his years as the Mayor, he was known as a person who could bring people together and resolve issues that faced Wethersfield and its citizens. Dan loved Wethersfield and its community of citizens; he was always promoting the town wherever he went.
Upon his retirement from the drug store and from elected positions, Dan continued to serve the community in many ways. He was an active member of The Church of the Incarnation where he served as a Lector. He was a longstanding member of the Memorial Day Parade Committee and presided over the ceremony for many years. Furthermore, he served on the Wethersfield High School Renovation Committee, and the Redevelopment Committee. Dan was a proud member of the Metropolitan District Commission for 18 years. Also in retirement, Dan was appointed and reappointed by several governors to serve on the State Parole Board as well as the State Mediation and Arbitration Board. Dan is a proud charter member of the Wethersfield Chapter of UNICO and was always a cheerful greeter at their annual Pasta Dinner.
Dan loved public speaking. He was known as an eloquent orator, and was a master of ceremonies for many pharmaceutical and political events during his long and wonderful life. His faith in God, his commitment and eternal love for his wife Rose, his love of family, and his drive to help others, were the elements that made up Dan Camilliere. As he grew older, he was often asked what his secret was to living such a long and full life. Dan answered with a smile, and in a serious tone he said, “I try to do everything in moderation!”
In addition to his many professional accomplishments, Dan has been a dedicated family man. A loving husband, father and grandfather, Dan will be deeply missed and forever remembered by his devoted wife Rose, his loving daughter, Camille Mogelnicki and her husband Joe, and his treasured son Anthony Daniel Camilliere and his wife, Anne, all of Wethersfield. He also leaves five cherished grandchildren, Christina Mogelnicki and her fiancé Quinton Swan, Daniel Camilliere, John Camilliere, Lauren Mogelnicki and Katelyn Mogelnicki as well as a special niece, Connie and her husband Brian Morin, his nephews, Dr. Louis Renza and his wife, Crista, Tom Mudano and his wife Diane, Ron Vasquez and his wife Carol, along with many other nieces and nephews, grand and great-grand nieces and nephews, and many, many special friends and family members. He was predeceased by his sisters Mary “Sadie” Mudano and her husband Sebastian “Nonny”, Anne Renza and her husband Gene, and Lillian Vasquez and her husband, Carmelo.
Dan’s family extends special thanks and appreciation to Father Terry Kristofak of Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center for his love and support. Additionally, Dan’s family thanks the nurses at Hartford Hospital for their care and compassion and a special thanks to caregivers, Maureen and Diana.
The family will receive relatives and friends on Monday, January 23rd from 3 to 7 p.m. at the D'Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Blvd., Wethersfield. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, January 24th at the Church of the Incarnation (Christ the King Parish) 544 Prospect St., Wethersfield. Everyone is asked to please meet directly at the church. Burial with military honors will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery, Hartford.
Memorial donations in Dan’s memory may be sent to the Wethersfield Veterans Commission c/o Parks and Recreation Department, 505 Silas Deane Highway, Wethersfield, CT 06109. Checks should be made payable to the Wethersfield Veterans Commission or online at bit.ly/wethvets.
To leave a message for the family or view Dan’s memorial tribute video, please visit www.desopofuneralchapel.com
