Venico J. Petrini

PETRINI, VENICO J. Venico J. Petrini, 90, of Madison and formerly of Redding, passed away peacefully on April 1, 2013. Born in Greenville, Mississippi, he was the son of Ernesto and Rose Radicioni Petrini, both of Ancona, Italy. He was a Sargent in the 8th Air Force during World War II, serving in the Pacific. Venico moved to Branchville, Connecticut with his family at age four in the aftermath of the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927. A gifted baseball player, he played centerfield for the Ridgefield High School Championship teams of 1939 and 1940. He continued playing baseball for the Air Force overseas after being drafted during the War. Following the War, he earned a contract to play for the farm system of the New York Giants, but declined the offer citing the rigors of minor league baseball. Instead he played for many local teams throughout the 1940s earning a reputation as one of region's best power hitters. Venico served as a letter carrier for the United States Postal Service until his retirement in 1987. He loved golf, baseball and his five grandchildren: Dominique, Derrick, and Devon Mann, and Alexandra and Rachel Petrini. He is predeceased by two brothers, Arduino and Julio, and one sister, Evelyn Waters. He is survived by his brother Geno Petrini of Redding, Connecticut, his son Vincent Petrini of Madison, Connecticut and his daughter, Jacqueline Mann of Sharon, Massachusetts. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 11th, at 10:00 am at Sacred Heart Church in Georgetown, Connecticut. There will be no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to the Adler Center of Yale-New Haven Hospital, P.O. Box 1849, New Haven, CT 06508.