Eugene A. Scalise

Eugene A. Scalise, 87, of Glastonbury, beloved husband for 69 years of Eleanor L. Scalise, died peacefully at home on Wednesday, (November 16, 2011). He was born on December 23, 1923 in Winsted, Connecticut. Following graduation in 1942 from The Gilbert School in Winsted, Eugene attended Pratt Art Institute in New York until he was drafted in 1943 into the Army Air Corp. During World War II, he served as Navigator on a 8-17 Flying Fortress bomber stationed in England with the 8th Air Force, 305th Bomb Group. He completed his tour of duty with 25 combat missions. Eugene was stationed in Japan from 1948-1951 while serving in the Air Force as an Air Rescue Service Navigator. Eleanor and children accompanied him in Japan during this still unsettling time. During the Korean War, he received the Distinguished Flying Cross, Following his honorable discharge from the Air Force in the 1950s, Eugene served in the Air Force Reserve, the Connecticut Air National Guard and was the Chief Liaison Officer for Connecticut counseling high school students interested in applying to the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He finally retired from military service in 1975 with the rank of Colonel. In the 1950's, Eugene became a social studies teacher at Glastonbury High School and served as Vice Principal. He somehow found time to earn his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in education and completed all course work for his doctorate. In 1960, he joined the staff of the Connecticut Education Association, retiring in 1987 as its Deputy Executive Director. From 1988 until this spring, he was a Realtor with Co!dwell Banker. Eugene was a Renaissance man in the truest sense of the word. He was a teacher, educator, artist, musician, composer, writer, athlete and soldier. Most of all, he was a devoted family man who always put the best interests of Eleanor and his children first. In addition to Eleanor, he is survived by his two daughters, Ronaele Marie and Karen Degenhardt and husband Robert, his two sons, Eugene and wife Trudy, and Robert and wife Mary, and his 10 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Calling hours will be held on Sunday, (November 20), from 12-3 pm at Glastonbury Funeral Home, 450 New London Turnpike, Glastonbury, CT 06033. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, (November 21), at 1 pm at St. Augustine's church in Glastonbury with a private family burial immediately following at Green Cemetery in Glastonbury. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org) or to the Connecticut Humane Society (www.cthumane.org). For more information or to leave an online condolence, please visit www.glastonburyfuneral.com