Manuel R. Cardona

CARDONA Manuel R. Cardona, age 68 of Hamden, passed away Friday, January 30, 2009 at Yale-New Haven Hospital. He was the husband of Edith DelToro Cardona. Born in Puerto Rico, October 9, 1940, he was the son of the late Manuel and Florencia Troche Cardona. Mr. Cardona received his BA degree from the International American University, San German, Puerto Rico and his MS from Bridgeport University. He had worked as a director for the Bridgeport Boys & Girls Club and later at the Bridgeport Y.M.C.A. until his retirement. He had also worked for Ser-Job. When at the Y.M.C.A., he helped organize and direct the Team Fatherhood Program. During the Clinton administration, Mr. Cardona was the only person selected in the State of Connecticut for the Faces of Hope Program. He served on many other community organization boards in the Bridgeport area and served his country faithfully in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He was the father of Isa (Joseph) Burchfield of North Providence, R.I., Viviana (Robert) Ortiz of North Haven, Sara (Paulo) Lage of Bridgeport, Maico (Yaniris) Cardona of North Haven and the late Deanna Michele Proctor; brother of Isabel Cardona of Puerto Rico; grandfather of Wesley, Brianna, Alondra, Mia, Eva and Maico, Jr. His funeral procession will leave the North Haven Funeral Home, 36 Washington Ave., Tuesday morning at 10:30. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in St. Rita's at 11. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery, New Haven. The visiting hours will be Monday from 4 to 8 p.m. Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to the American Liver Foundation, 75 Maiden Lane, New York, NY 10038. www.northhavenfuneral.com.