Former Attorney General Carl R. Ajello passed peacefully surrounded by his loving family, at age 92 on June 1, 2025. He is survived by his wife, Jacqueline Culmo Ajello, his daughter, Michele C. Mount and her husband Michael Mount, and son, Carl R. Ajello III and his wife Tracy Ajello. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Dylan Mount, Jackson Ajello, and Jessica Mount.
Carl was born in the city of Ansonia, Connecticut, on August 22, 1932, to Carl and Kathryn Flanagan Ajello. He attended public schools in Ansonia before graduating with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Connecticut in 1953. He then went to graduate school, receiving a LL.B. and J.D.S. in law from New York University School of Law in 1956.
He later enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps from 1957 to 1960. He was a lieutenant when he first enlisted and he was honorably discharged as a captain. He then served in the U.S. Army Reserves until 1968.
Carl, a member of the Democratic Party, was elected Justice of the Peace for the city of Ansonia for the 1960 – 1962 term; he also served as Corporation Counsel for Ansonia from 1965 – 1968. He was elected as a member of the Connecticut General Assembly in 1963, and served as the Assistant House Majority Leader in the 1967 session, House Majority Leader in the 1969 and 1971 – 1972 sessions; House Minority Leader in the 1973 – 1974 sessions.
He was elected Connecticut Attorney General in 1974 and re-elected in 1978, serving two terms from 1975 to 1983. In 1978 he was elected, by his peers, as President of the National Association of Attorneys General.
Carl, will be remembered as a dedicated public servant who loved his family, Ansonia and the Valley where he grew up, and participating in local sports. He especially enjoyed playing softball, golf, and tennis. He was a deeply-loved and respected man with a great sense of humor who will be dearly missed by all.
Visitation will be held on Thursday June 5th from 4PM-7PM at The Bennett Funeral Home located at 91 N Cliff St in Ansonia, CT 06401. The funeral service will be held on Friday June 6th at 10AM at The Holy Rosary Church located at 10 Father Salemi Dr, Ansonia, CT 06401. Burial will be in Mt. St. Peters Cemetery Derby, CT
