Richard J. Wailionis, age 89, of Summerfield, FL, formerly of Ansonia, CT, son of the late Alexander and Josephine (Madura) Wailionis passed away on Monday, August 19, 2024 at UF Health Spanish Plaines Hospital, The Villages, FL.
His beloved wife Joan (Kuba) Wailionis of 47 years preceded him in death in 2007. Also preceding him were his brothers Alexander C. Wailionis and Robert J. Wailionis. Surviving him is his loving wife, best friend and companion, Carolyn Briggs (Wailionis) of FL, formerly of Harvard, MA.
Born in New York City, NY in 1935, his family moved to Derby, CT when World War II broke out in 1941. His youth was spent primarily in Derby, CT attending St. Michael School as student and altar boy, and peddling the newspapers “The New Haven Journal Courier” in the morning and the “Sentinel” in the afternoon. He continued his education in Derby High (elected VP of his sophomore class) then Ansonia High (graduating Ansonia in 1953.)
He served with the United States Marine Corp Reserve prior to his active duty as part of the U.S. Army’s Explosive Ordnance and Demolition team, the 40th EOD. Graduate from the U.S. Naval EOD School, Indianhead, MD. then completing advanced explosive training at Eglin Air Force Base in FL. Richard was a member of the National Explosive Ordnance Disposal Association.
Richard was awarded the Connecticut Wartime Veterans Service Medal and the Florida Governor’s Veterans Service Award his U.S Army service.
He co-founded the Melody Bells Orchestra in 1953 with Richard Slowik and later continued his love for music by establishing the Dick Walonis 18 piece orchestras from 1975 to 1982 and later 2007 to 2012. His mentor in the music field was the late Henry “Spike” Mocarski (Ray Henry Orchestra).
His love for music was that of the Big Bands, polka, and Polish and German folk. In his early years he participated in folk dancing as a member of the Polish Falcon organization and performed with dance groups at many events. He had a special love for ethnic music and wrote and arranged many tunes for his and other bands. Most recently he was a member of the Meltones Orchestra from Orlando, FL.
He was a former member of St. Michael Church, Derby, CT, St. Pauls Church, Belleview, FL, Our Lady of Grace Church, Stratford, CT, Holy Rosary Church and St. Anthony Church, Ansonia, CT serving as an usher for many years prior to moving to Florida. At Holy Rosary Church, he was an avid supporter of the Prayer Shawl Ministry. At St. Michael Church he was an alter boy from the 4th grade and on into high school. He graduated from St. Michael School in 1949 and was extremely proud to have been taught by the Sisters of Nazareth.
He attended the University of CT, Bridgeport Engineering Institute, Southern CT State University graduate program for mathematics, Fairfield University Graduate Schools, and the National Graduate Institute receiving his BS, MS and PhD degree.
Teaching was also a favorite of his and he was an Adjunct Professor at Fairfield, Sacred Heart and Tekyo Post Universities and an active lead practitioner in the mathematics of Six Sigma Statistical applications (black belt status). Richard retired from Lewis Engineering, Naugatuck, CT in 1999 as Director of Quality Engineering. Previous to that he worked at Robert Shaw Controls, Milford, CT as Plant Metallurgist, Farrel Corporation, Ansonia, CT as Quality System Manager, the AEC and, Bridgeport Brass Company, Bridgeport, CT as Process and Research Metallurgist.
He studied in England at the British Standards Institute (BSI) during the conception of the international standard, ISO 9000. Richard was directly responsible for the Farrel Corporation and Lewis Engineering’s acceptance into the National, European, and Global Communities’ Manufacturing ISO 9000 requirements and requirements and global certifications. After his retirement from Lewis Engineering, he formed the Northeast Consultants and aided companies to meet the requirements for ISO 9000.
Richard was extremely proud to be an American, a husband, a father, a Christian, a Soldier, a Marine, of Polish-Lithuanian ancestry and a member of the Polish Falcons. On with the music … Czolem Bracia.
Friends may call on Wednesday, from 4:00 — 7:00 PM at the Edward F. Adzima Funeral Home, 253 Elizabeth St., Derby. On Thursday, his funeral procession will leave the funeral home at 9:15 AM for his Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 AM at St. Michael Church. Full Military Honors will be bestowed upon Richard at St. Michael Cemetery.
The family requests donations may be made to St. Mary & St. Michael School, 14 Seymour Ave., Derby, CT 06418.
Friends may leave condolences at www.adzimafh.com.
