John “Raven” Commune, a lifelong resident of Seymour, entered into eternal rest Sept. 24. He was born May 12, 1950, son of the late John and Evelyn Coppola Commune. He was a former owner and proprietor of Home Plate Bar.
John devoted much of his life to Seymour’s athletic programs, serving as statistician and timekeeper. It all started as a 17-year-old junior at Seymour High School in 1968, when he was asked by the new coach Dan Heffernan to compile stats for the team. John kept it old school, he never used a cell phone or computer. He kept his stats only with a pen and paper. It would culminate in a career lasting 44 years, where he missed just 2 games. John also served as Seymour’s team manager. John would step in to contact local newspapers with the results of High School football games, if the game wasn’t covered by a newspaper staff reporter. His efforts were a gift of the team’s history and its memories to all those who played. He also helped Seymour’s baseball & basketball teams with their statistics, as well as serving as clock operator for Ansonia’s women’s basketball games for 25 years. The press box at DeBarber Field was named The John “Raven” Commune Press Box in his honor.
He leaves his brother David Commune of Maine, cousins Ron Balabon of Ansonia and Rose Spiwak of Seymour, and a host of other cousins and friends. Friends may call on Thursday, Oct. 2nd from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at The Jenkins King & Malerba Funeral Home, 12 Franklin St. Ansonia. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday at 10:00 a.m., with friends asked to go directly to Holy Rosary Church in Ansonia. Burial will follow in Mt. St. Peter Cemetery. In John’s memory, please make donations to The Lutheran Home in Southbury through the family.