Dominic J. Castagna

1925 - 2015

Dominic "Dom" J. Castagna, 90, of East Hartford, loving husband for over 66 years to Sarah (Garretto) Castagna, entered into eternal peace on Saturday, April 11, 2015 at Hartford Hospital. Dominic was born on February 26, 1925 in New London to the late Frank and Madeline (Christina) Castagna. The family moved to Hartford when he was an infant and he lived his entire life in this area. He attended Dwight, Naylor and Burr Schools and due to a move from Hartford's south end to a house on Capital Avenue opposite the state capital he went to and graduated from Hartford Public High School in 1942. In 1943 he was inducted into the U.S. Navy and served honorably to December of 1945 mostly in the Pacific Arena. Upon returning to civilian life he enrolled at UConn and graduated in 1950 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education. He started his teaching career in 1950 and until June of 1955 taught seventh and eighth graders at Towpath School in Avon. He loved Avon and the students he was charged with but Hartford offered him an opportunity which he found hard to reject. His first assignment in Hartford was at Jones Junior High School where he taught from 1955-1957 and enjoyed every day of it. In 1957 he was transferred to Bulkeley High School where he remained until his retirement in 1986. He was made Chairman of the Math Department and retired as such. During his career in Hartford he was elected Treasurer of the Hartford Principals and Supervisory Association. Upon this retirement from the Hartford School System he became a financial planner. Dom was proud of his Italian heritage and liked solving cross-word puzzles and reading "Mystery" novels. He enjoyed traveling to Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL and casinos. He was also a loyal fan of the UCONN Women's basketball team, New York Yankees, and New York Giants. Along with his devoted wife Sarah, Dom is survived by his two beloved daughters, Mary Ellen Marino and her husband, Carl, of Cromwell, and Diane Wilkinson of Windsor. He also leaves behind a sister-in-law, Gloria Garretto of Berlin; several dear friends, co-workers, and former students. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his twin brothers, Sebastian "Buster" and John Castagna. Funeral service will be Wednesday (April 15th) at 10:30 am from the D'ESOPO-East Hartford Memorial Chapel, 30 Carter Street, East Hartford with a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated at 11 am at St. Christopher Church, 538 Brewer Street, East Hartford. Burial with military honors will follow at Veterans Memorial Field #2-Silver Lane Cemetery, East Hartford. Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home chapel on Wednesday morning from 9:30 - 10:30 am. Memorial contributions in Dominic's name may be made to the Salvation Army, 855 Asylum Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105. For on-line expressions of sympathy to the family please visit www.desopo.com.