RUSSELL REGA

1915 - 2014

REGA, RUSSELL L. Russell L. Rega, 99, formerly of North Haven, Connecticut and West Palm Beach, Florida, died December 4, 2014 at the Edgewood Centre, Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Born in Wallingford, Connecticut on September 21, 1915, he was the son of the late Rose Rausch and Louis F Rega. He was married in 1939 to Ellen Cleveland and they had two children Russell R and Karen. He graduated West Haven High School and attended Yale Music School. Russ’s entire life was music. He was into music at an early age, his father bought him a piano at 8 and he was working jobs at the age of 13. One of his first jobs was on the Ferry boat between Battery Park, NY and Bridgeport, he had a small band on board. He spent time in Rhode Island and had a band at the Biltmore Hotel and worked Detroit, Michigan when it was in its heyday. Returning from Detroit because of the war, he worked in the New Haven area and created the Russ Rega Music School which he eventually moved to his home in Hamden. Russell and Ellen divorced in 1970, he remarried in 1983 to Mary Mancini and divided his time between Connecticut and West Palm Beach, Florida. He knew thousands of songs by memory, including many ethnic songs of Poland, Italy, and France. He was a musician, band leader, and arranger and did a number of benefit shows as music director in the New Haven area. He played for country clubs, nightclubs and various social events up until he was 95. He entertained his neighbors for years at the clubhouse of his condo in West Palm Beach. While his memory failed in his last years, he could still play any song you could think of on the piano and he often entertained his friends at the Edgewood Nursing Home, in Portsmouth, NH. He was an avid tennis player. He played tennis in Hamden and West Palm Beach. He loved the tennis matches on TV and went to a number of them when in Florida. He was predeceased by his daughter Karen Van Os. He leaves a son Russell R. and his wife Sandy of York, ME/Cape Coral, FL. He also leaves his son-in-law Robert Van Os, 4 grandchildren, Sherry Rega of York, ME, Michael Rega and his wife Wendy of Hampton Beach, NH, Tracey Henry of Belmont, CA, Tim Henry of Napa, CA; 5 great grandchildren Sarah, Victoria and Katherine Rega of Hampton Beach, NH, Rebecca Rega of Haverhill, MA and Lina Tullgren of Somerville, MA. Services: services will be held at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Edgewood Centre Recreation Fund, 928 South Street, Portsmouth, NH 03801. Visit: www.jvwoodfuneralhome.com to sign the online guest book. The J. Verne Wood Funeral Home – Buckminster Chapel, assisted with arrangements.