In Memoriam - Thomas Kinsella

Thomas R. Kinsela, 88, a lifelong resident of Stamford, passed away peacefully at Stamford hospital with loving family by his side on Monday April 9, 2018. He was born in Stamford on August 11, 1929 to Katherine O’Neill and Thomas Kinsella. He graduated from Stamford High School in 1947. He served in the military in a long range artillary unit in Korea. He was awarded 8 military awards and a battle star for his service. He spent his entire professional career in the design, engineering, and construction industry, working for M.W. Kellogg and Crawford & Russell/John Brown. His work took him to offices and sites all over the country, Europe and the far East. He was a member of the VFW, the senior men’s club, and St. Cecilia Reserection Guild. In his retirement, he spent his time with his family and working on projects around the home. His family was the most important thing to him, Family duty came first. He was totally devoted to his wife Ann and throughout their lives they cared for each other in a way that serves as a model for marriage. Tom is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 63 years, their loving daughters Mary, Kathy, and Colleen, sons in law Jeff and Michael. He had 6 grandchildren: Tara, Maggie, Lindsey, JT, Zack, & Kaitlyn, Tom also had 3 great grandchildren Camryn, Carson, and Griffin. Tom was predeceased in death by his parents, sister Barbara, and brother Jack, There will be a Mass of Christian burial at St Cecilia Church, Newfield Ave. Stamford, at 11:00 Thursday April 12, 2018. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in his memory be made to St. Cecilia’s Church, Stamford, or the American Heart Association. To leave condolences for the family, please do so on www.gallagherfuneralhome.com or Here.

In Memoriam - John C. “Jags” Jagodzinski,

John C. “Jags” Jagodzinski, 75, of Stamford passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Tuesday, March 20, 2018 at Stamford Hospital. He was born in Greenwich on October 12, 1942 to the late John A. and Ann Schmera Jagodzinski.

John was an automotive mechanic and was the owner and operator of Camp Chevron for over twenty five years. He served in the US Army 82nd Airborne Division and a member of VFW Post 9617.

A funeral procession will be leaving the Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Myrtle Avenue, Stamford on Saturday, March 24, 2018 at 9:40 a.m. for a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s RC Church, 566 Elm Street, Stamford. Entombment will follow at St. John’s Mausoleum, Darien. Family and friends may call at the funeral home on Friday, March 23, 2018 from 5:00-9:00 p.m.

Donations can be made in John’s memory to the Wounded Warrior Project, Donor Care Center, P.O Box 758541, Topeka, KS 66675-8541

To leave online condolences at Cognetta Funeral Home, please click here.

To see the obituary, please visit the Stamford Advocate.

VFW POST 9617 ASSISTING VETERANS ON THANKSGIVING

Commander James Santangelo of VFW Post 9617 Stamford delivered Thanksgiving baskets to needy veterans. One of the many tasks Stamford VFW Post 9617 do every day to help veterans in need.

Veterans Day Commemoration Day at Stamford CT High School

Stamford Veterans representing VFW Post 9617, American Legion, Catholic War Veterans and Jewish War Veterans attended the annual Veterans Day Commemoration at Stamford High School, on November 10, 2015.  

Hundreds of students filled the auditorium to participate in a program directed by Doug J. Maclehose, History Department Head, which featured renditions by the school band and choir.





A Veteran from each organization spoke to  students about their service to country and urged them to learn and study to become good citizens. Prior to the general school meeting the veterans visited classrooms and met with individual students and answered excellent  questions  from the well informed students.

VFW Post 9617 Stamford CT marched in the Veterans Day Parade November 8, 2015

A large contingent representing one of Connecticut's best known VFW Posts 9617 marched and were greeted enthusiastically on Sunday November 8, 2015.

Pictured (Left) is  Fred Drenickhahn, long time member of VFW Post 9617  with Barbara Cartsounis , daughter of late George Cartsounis. a World War II Navy Veteran.

Left to right, Fred Drenickhahn, Frank DeMasi, General (ret) Robert Cody and Korean War Combat veteran James Lyles, Members of the VFW Post 9617.











Marco Pensiero, and Frank DeMasi getting ready to march.












Colonel Mark McGrath, Operation Iraqi Freedom, James L. Dudley, Christopher Munger and Korean War Combat Veteran Paul Lee.

HONORING THOSE WHO SERVED

On October 15, 2015  at the Leo P. Gallagher & Son Funeral Home in Stamford,CT the VFW Post 9617  honored the lives of Stamford and Greenwich Veterans whose cremated remains have remained unclaimed.







After a very emotional  service and tribute  at the funeral home the VFW veterans escorted the remains to the State Veterans Cemetery in Middletown, CT where they were interred with full military honors.



The entourage was escorted to middletown by CT State Police and local law enforcement Departments from towns along the route.

Junior Vice Commander of VFW post 9617 Archie Elam, said  it was "one of the most impressive ceremonies he has ever attended."

VFW Post 9617 Members Featured In News 12 CT Memorial Day Parade story

Thousands of people made their way to Stamford on Sunday to watch the city's annual Memorial Day Parade

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