Ida Masselli

MASSELLI, Ida Ida Marie (Rusconi) Masselli, 91, of Middlefield, died peacefully after a short illness on August 29, 2009. She was born in Middletown on January 4, 1918, the daughter of Charles and Severina (Malcarne) Rusconi. She graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School. In 1947 she married Nicholas William Masselli of Middletown who died in 1987. After moving with her husband and two children to Middlefield in 1954, she became active in local and state politics. She was a member of the Middlefield Democratic Town Committee for many years, and played a leading in role in the local 1960 Kennedy for President campaign. She served as Registrar of Voters for Middlefield for several terms. She was an early and active supporter of the civil rights movement. In addition to her political activities, she participated in Cub Scouts and was an enthusiastic bridge player. In her later years Ida especially enjoyed gardening and bird watching at her home in Middlefield. She is survived by her son David and his wife Karen Larsen of Arlington, Virginia, and her son Mark and his wife Jennifer Alexander of Middletown, and her sisters Grace Rusconi and Esther Rusconi also of Middletown. Ida had six grandchildren: Christopher and Cory Masselli of Arlington, Virginia, and Tenzin, Margaret, Karma, and Kobi Masselli of Middletown. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 10 a.m. at Doolittle Funeral Home, 14 Old Church St., Middletown. Interment will be at the convenience of the family. Friends may call at the Doolittle Funeral Home on Tuesday morning from 8-10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the NAACP. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family at the website of www.doolittlefuneralservice.com.