Attorney Pasquale “Pat” A. Pepe, 94, of Shelton, CT passed away on The Fourth of July, 2018.
He was a longtime resident of Ansonia, moving to Shelton in 2002. Pat was born in Derby, January 27, 1924 to Pasquale M. Pepe and Giovanna F. Savarese. Pat attended Assumption School and fondly recalled sledding and ice skating at Pickett’s Pond, and swimming at the Recreation Camp on Roosevelt Drive. He would often sneak away from helping in his father’s woodworking business to play baseball in the field behind Pine High School. Pat graduated from Ansonia High School in 1941 and played center field on the baseball team. Pat attended Fordham College for 2 years before being enlisted into Military Service in World War II. He was placed at the University of Detroit in the Army Specialized Training Program before being assigned to the 58th Infantry Battalion of the 8th Armored Division. He spent 7 months in the European Theater trekking through France, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany where he was wounded April 12, 1945. His division was 57 miles from Berlin at the War’s end. Pat was honorably discharged in October, 1945 after 2 ½ years of service. PFC Pepe was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, Purple Heart, Bronze star Ribbon, American Theater Ribbon, ETO Ribbon with 3 campaign stars and the Good Conduct Ribbon. Pat’s military service inspired a passion for veterans and historical preservation that persisted throughout his life. He was a life member of the American Legion Disabled American Veterans, Military Order of the Purple Heart, and Catholic War Veterans. He attended 26 conventions of the 8th Armored Division Association, and in 1984 revisited the route of the 8th Armored across Europe in 1945. In 1999 he was named National President. Pat served as chairman of the Ansonia Memorial Day Association, and was the main speaker at many Memorial Day services. He chaired the Veteran’s Memorial Committee which erected a monument next to City Hall to honor Ansonia Veterans who died while in service from 1917 to Vietnam.
After the war he returned to Fordham and obtained his law degree. In 1951, he married Elizabeth Ann Gardella, who preceded him in death after 63 years of marriage. Together they raised a family of six. Pat practiced law in Ansonia for 66 years. He also served the City of Ansonia in many capacities including Corporation Counsel under Mayor James Martin and Mayor Sturgis Sobin, Prosecutor for City Courts, member of the Charter Revision Committee, Historic Commission, Ansonia Library Board, 1976 Bicentennial Commission, and the Ansonia Centennial Committee. A lifelong Republican, Pat was a pillar of the local and state community. He was a member of the Ansonia Republican Town Committee for over 50 years, a Delegate to Republican State Conventions for 40 years, and moderated many city, state and federal elections. Pat served the State of Connecticut as State Representative from Ansonia 1957 – 1958, as Law Clerk for the General Laws Committee of General Assembly 1958 – 1959, and as a Member, Secretary and Chairman of the State Properties Review Board for 35 years.
A parishioner of Holy Rosary Church, Pat served God and his parish as Lector, Eucharistic Minister, member of the Church Council, Pastoral Council, Archbishop Pastoral Council under Archbishop Whealon, and the Knights of Columbus. He served as Legal Counsel, and represented the parish in the Eminent Domain suit when old Holy Rosary was taken for redevelopment in Ansonia. He was staunchly prolife and served as Chairman of the Prolife Committee, President of the Pro Life Council of Connecticut, and Counsel for Birthright of the Valley.
Pat is survived by six children. Sons Pat, Jr. (Debbie) of Sandy Hook; Albert (Donna) of Oldsmar, FL; Michael (Patricia) of Cheshire; Anthony “Nino” (Jill) of Sherman; and daughters Marie Theriault (Vic) of Waxhaw, NC; and Anne Brady (John) of Richardson, TX. He is preceded in death by granddaughter Angela Pepe, brother Vincent Pepe and sister Joan Asprelli, and is survived by 11 grandchildren: Christopher and Daniel Theriault, John and Carol Brady, Margaret Wilson, Christina, Justin, Michael, Jr. and Nicole Pepe, and Michael and Christopher Parker. Survivors also include sisters Diana Duarte (Orange) and Theresa Rasmussen (Holyoke, MA) and 16 nieces and nephews.
A funeral mass will be celebrated Friday, July 13th at 10:00 a.m., with friends asked to go directly to Holy Rosary Church, Father Salemi Drive, Ansonia. Burial with Military Honors rendered will follow at Mt. Saint Peter’s Cemetery, Derby. Friends may call on Thursday from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Jenkins King and Malerba Funeral Home, 12 Franklin Street, Ansonia. (http://www.jenkinskingfh.com)
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Gary Sinise Foundation at garysinisefoundation.org or Priests for Life at priestsforlife.org
