Angelo Santaniello

1924 - 2015

Angelo Santaniello Stonington - Retired Supreme Court Justice Angelo G. Santaniello, 90, loving husband of Kay Santaniello, formerly of New London, passed away on Sunday, March 1, 2015, in his home in Pawcatuck, surrounded by his loving family. He was born May 28, 1924, in New London, to the late Samuel and Katie Santaniello. He was a 1942 graduate of the former Bulkeley School in New London, a member of the Bulkeley Alumni Association and proud to be a "Bulkeley Boy". He was a member of the graduating class of 1946 of the College of the Holy Cross and served as president of the Alumni Association. In 1976 he received the In Hoc Signo Award, the Alumni Association's highest honor which is an expression of respect and admiration for those who have given most generously of their time and talents to Holy Cross. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He graduated from Georgetown University School of Law in 1950. In September 1950, he started his own law practice, and in 1953, he invited the late C. Robert Satti to join him forming the law firm Santaniello & Satti. He was appointed as a Circuit Court Judge in 1966 and Judge of Common Pleas in 1971. He was elevated to a Superior Court Judge in 1973. He served as the Chief Administrative Judge of Civil and the Administrative Judge of the New London Judicial District from 1978 to 1985. In 1985 he was appointed to a Connecticut Supreme Court Justice where he served until he stepped down in 1987 to become a Senior Associate Justice. As a Senior Justice he is credited with developing the Pre-Argument Conference Program and ran the "Supreme Court on Circuit" program. In 1994, he reached the mandatory retirement age and became a State Judge Trial Referee until 2010. In addition to his wife, Kay, he is survived by his daughters, Lisa Dittman and her husband, William, of Pawcatuck and Maria Kewer and her husband, William, of Oakdale; his son, S. Gary Santaniello of New London; his sisters, Gloria Hatfield of New London and Mary Rowe and her husband, Kenneth, of New London. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Amanda Kewer, William Dittman Jr., Emily Kewer, Caitlyn Dittman, Terri Dittman Fredericks, and Stephanie Dittman Horn. He was predeceased by his first wife, Catherine (Driscoll) Santaniello; his brother, Anthony Santaniello; and his sisters, Agatha O'Neill and Vera McQuown. He is also survived by several cherished nieces and nephews and three great-grandchildren. He was a member of the New London and Connecticut Bar Associations, the Italian Dramatic Club, lifetime member of the Order of the Sons of Italy, the New London Elks Lodge 360, the First Wednesday Club, the Italian American Civic Association, and he was the first mate president of the Southeastern Connecticut Visiting Nurse Association. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to St. Bernard High School in Uncasville, (saint-bernard.com Give to SB) or to the College of Holy Cross Financial Aid or Crusader Athletics Fund in Worcester, Mass. (holycross.edu Make a Gift). His family will receive relatives and friends from 1 to 3 p.m. and 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday at the Impellitteri-Malia Funeral Home, 84 Montauk Ave., New London. Guests are asked to gather for a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. on Friday in St. Joseph Church, 17 Squire St., New London. Interment to follow in St. Mary Cemetery with military honors.