Otto Peter Strobino

STROBINO, Otto Peter Otto Peter Strobino, 80, of Cheshire, husband of Agnes (Gwozdecka) Strobino, died early Sunday morning, (March 18, 2007) at the Hospital of Central Connecticut, New Britain. Born in Patterson, New Jersey, the son of the late Otto and the late Margaret (Campbell) Strobino, he graduated from New York University with a degree in physical therapy, served in the US Marine Corps in World War II, and was an active in banking, physical therapy, general business, professional organizations, and community service. He founded and served as board chairman of Farmington Savings and Loan Association, served as chairman of the board of First City Bank, was president of Cross Health Care and a number of other health related companies, and owned and operated Johnson Garden Service in Kensington. He was a life member of the New Britain Lions Club that he joined in 1957, and served in many positions including club president, zone chairman, deputy district governor, district governor, project director of the publication of the Connecticut Lions' History, was responsible for the establishment of both the Lions Memorial Forest at the University of Connecticut and the Temporal Bone Bank in Connecticut, served as an appointee to the board from July 1994 through July 1995, and from July 2000 through July 2001, served as National/Multiple National Coordinator for Campaign Sight First, and served a two year term as the President of the Connecticut Lions Eye Research Foundation. Otto was elected to serve a two year term as a director of the International Association of Lions Clubs at the associations 73rd International Convention held in St Louis, Missouri July 11-15, 1990. In recognition of his many contributions to the Association, he received numerous awards, including the 100% President's Award, the 100% District Governor Award, three rebuilding Lions awards, four extension awards, five International Presidents Appreciation Awards, a Presidential Leadership award, five International President's awards, and the Ambassador of Good Will Award, the highest honor bestowed upon a member of the association. He is also a Progressive Melvin Jones Fellow and has sponsored over ninety members. He was the association's representative to the United Nations Narcotics and Substance Abuse Committee where he serves as Chairman, was on the U.N. Department of Public Information Committee, and was chairman of the Lead Gifts Committee for Campaign SightFirst II. He also served on the board of trustees of the New Britain YMCA, was past president of the New Britain Chamber of Commerce, past president and a member of the board of directors of the New Britain Salvation Army, incorporator of New Britain General Hospital, and the Constructive Workshop, and served on the board of directors of Gallery of Vision Services, Connecticut Eye Bank where he was vice chairman, Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation, the Municipal Economic Development Agency, New Britain Youth Museum where he was vice chairman, and was a member of "Who's Who World Wide." In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Robert Peter Strobino and his wife Paige of Berlin, a daughter, Charyl Vaccaro of Las Vegas, Nevada, and five grandchildren, Nicholas Anthony Vaccaro, and Stephanie, Taylor, Brooke, and Nikki Strobino. Funeral services will be held Thursday at 10am directly at St. Bridget Church, 175 Main Street, Cheshire. Burial with full military honors will follow in the church cemetery. Friends and relatives are invited to call at Porter's Funeral Home, 111 Chamberlain Highway in Kensington, on Wednesday from 4-8 p.m. The Lions Club will meet for a service at 7:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Connecticut Lions Eye Research Foundation, Memorial Program, P.O. Box 9268, New Haven, CT 06533, or to the American Diabetes Association, 306 Industrial Park Road, Suite 105, Middletown, CT 06457, or to any of the other charities that he cherished. Directions to the funeral home can be found at www. porters funeral.com