Jeanne Field Spallone

SPALLONE, Jeanne Field Jeanne Field Spallone, a former probate judge, legislator and reporter died Tuesday, (August 5, 2008) at Middlesex Hospital in Middletown after a short illness. She was 80, and was a resident of Deep River for nearly 60 years. Mrs. Spallone was predeceased by her husband, Judge Daniel F. Spallone, a Waterbury native and former judge of the Connecticut Appellate Court, last year. Jeanne Carol Field was born January 18, 1928 in New York City, NY to Flora Kopp Field and Charles William Field. She was raised in Manhattan, the Bronx and other locales in the greater New York area. She was a graduate of Julia Richman High School, a public high school for girls on Manhattan's Upper East Side. She attended New York University for a year, and then matriculated at the University of Connecticut from which she graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1950. Mrs. Spallone met her husband of 57 years at UConn, and they were married in 1950. They settled in Deep River. In the 1950's and again in the 1960's, Mrs. Spallone worked as an executive assistant to the late Chester Bowles of Essex, the former Governor, United States Congressman and Ambassador to India. She assisted Governor Bowles with his schedule, speaking engagements and writing projects. Her work with Bowles led to a decades-long involvement with local politics. She was a member of the Deep River Democratic Town Committee for over 50 years. Mrs. Spallone ran for state representative from Deep River three times, winning a seat, at the age of 32, for the historic 1959-61 session, when the Democrats gained a majority in the State House of Representatives for the first time in 80 years. She introduced a bill, which became law, allowing direct election of regional school board members. A working journalist at various times in the 1950's, 1960's and 1970's, Mrs. Spallone wrote news and features for the Middletown Press. She interviewed medical pioneer, Dr. Alice Hamilton, author McKinley Cantor and Crazy Horse sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski.She was published in Harper's Bazaar, The Encyclopedia of New York City and the Block Island Times. A local historian, she wrote a history of the lives of Revolutionary War veterans buried in Winthrop Cemetery in Deep River entitled "A Watch to Keep". She was a long time member of the Deep River Historical Society. In 1978, Mrs. Spallone was elected probate judge for Deep River, a position she held for 16 years. In retirement, she wrote occasional newspaper articles and columns, authored a children's book she was hoping to publish at the time of her death, and enjoyed spending time with her family at her summer cottage on Block Island, Rhode Island. Jeanne Field Spallone is survived by her daughter, Janne Spallone-Conrad of Watertown; her son, Niel F. Spallone of Deep River; her son, State Rep. James Field Spallone and daughter-in-law, Alix of Essex and three grandchildren. Burial will be private. A public memorial service will be held on Thursday, August 14, at 4 p.m. at the Deep River Congregational Church, 1 Church St., Deep River. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: The Valley Shore Animal Welfare League, P.O. Box 1134, Westbrook, CT 06498 or to the Block Island Historical Society, P.O. Box 79, Block Island, RI 02807. Arrangements by Robinson, Wright & Weymer Funeral Home, Centerbrook.