Anthony Lapolla Jr.

Anthony Lapolla Jr

Anthony (Dinny) Lapolla Jr, 1933-2018, son of the late Antonio Lapolla and Madalena Maiorano Lapolla and lifelong New Canaan resident, died Monday, June 25, 2018 after battling a long illness He was surrounded by loving family He maintained his deep faith and bawdy sense of humor, until the end

Dinny graduated from New Canaan High School where he was a three letterman in basketball, baseball and football He set several records that were not broken for almost twenty years He was a member of the 1951 State Champion Baseball Team, a feat that wasn't repeated until 2013

After high school, he joined the United States Marine Corps and served in the Korean War He was assigned to the 1st Marine Division, 5th Regiment, George Company, 3rd Platoon He attained the rank of Corporal and completed his service at Fort W D Earl in New Jersey

He became a New Canaan police officer in 1958 reaching the rank of sergeant before retiring in 1988 Dinny continued with his love of sports throughout his adult life playing semi-pro baseball and excelling in golf and pistol shooting He shared his football skills by founding New Canaan Pop Warner teams, which won awards from 1961 through 1971

While a police officer, he was a member of The Police Association of CT, The New Canaan Police Benevolent Association, AFSCME and the American Red Cross as a first-aid provider He was also a 3rd degree Knight of Columbus, a Veteran of Foreign Wars and the Old Timers Association

He was predeceased by brothers, Louis and Dominick Lapolla, and sisters, Mary Vitti and Filomena Lapolla He is survived by his wife of 48 years Lurline McLaughlin Lapolla; brother, Vito Lapolla; nieces MaryAnn DeFelice, Judy Strba, and Jennifer Mardorf; nephews Robert Lapolla, Lewis Lapolla, Tony Lapolla, Frank Lapolla and Joe Vitti; great-nephews Marc DeFelice, Justin DeFelice, and Lucas DeFelice and many other extended family members

Friends may call at Hoyt Funeral Home in New Canaan from 5:00PM to 8:00PM on Thursday, June 28 A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St Aloysius Church in New Canaan at 10:00AM on Friday, June 29 Interment will be at Lakeview Cemetery

In lieu of flowers, please, donate to St Jude Children's Research Hospital, PO Box 50, Memphis, TN 38101-9929 or visit wwwstjudeorg/donate

For directions and online condolences visit wwwhoytfuneralhomecom