Frank Totz

Frank Totz Jr.
March 10, 2025
Frank C. Totz Jr. of Windsor, VT, formerly of Wallingford, CT, died on March 10, 2025, following a brief illness. He was the husband of the late Barbara Buongirno Totz, his wife of 71 years. He was born in Meriden, CT on February 17, 1930, the son of the late Frank C. Totz Sr. and Lydia (Swantek) Totz. He was a resident of Wallingford for over 84 years before moving with his wife to West Lebanon, NH in 2014. He was educated in local schools and graduated from Lyman Hall High School in 1948. Following graduation, he worked at International Silver Company from 1948 to 1951. He then left to join the U.S. Postal Service, where he served as a letter carrier and later as delivery supervisor at the Wallingford Post Office, for 34 years before his retirement in 1985. Frank then joined the staff at the Wallingford Public Library, where he worked for the next fifteen years. He then continued as a volunteer helping with book donations, the annual book sale and fundraising events. While working full-time, Frank served in the U.S. Army Reserve from 1951 to 1956 and was a volunteer in the Yalesville Fire Department. He married his high school sweetheart, Barbara Buongirno on June 2, 1951. They had a long and happy marriage, that included raising their three children, cross-country travel, and 14 winters spent in Sarasota, Florida. In 2024 they moved to West Lebanon, NH and later to Windsor, VT. A man of many interests, Frank was a self-taught watercolorist, creating his own greeting cards. His special Christmas cards were sent to family and friends for over 25 years, always with his personal touch and message to each one. A lifelong diarist and archivist of family history, Frank could often be found working on his extensive autobiography. He especially enjoyed fishing with his grandsons, Peter, Dan, and Kevin and drawing and painting with his granddaughter, Meg. He is survived by his three children, daughter Ruth Gaffey and her husband Jim of Groton, NH; daughter Donna Cyr and her husband Mike of Gainesville, GA and son Robert and his wife Jill of Norwich, VT. He is also survived by five grandchildren, Bonnie Smith, Margaret Gaffey Grotti, Peter Gaffey, Daniel and Kevin Cyr and six great-grandchildren; his brother-in-law James Buongirno and his wife Palma and his sister-in-law Carol Buongirno.
Frank's family will receive relatives and friends at the Wallingford Funeral Home, 809 N. Main St. Ext., on Saturday MAY 17th, from 9-10:30 a.m. A Funeral Service will commence in the funeral home at 10:30. Interment, with his beloved wife Barbara, will following in the family plot in St. John Cemetery, Wallingford. The family would like to acknowledge and thank the staff at Cedar Hill Village in Windsor VT for their wonderful care and support of both Frank and Barbara. If you wish to make a donation in Frank's memory, please send to: The Cedar Hill Activity Department at 92 Cedar Hill Dr. Windsor, VT 05089. To leave an online condolence, please visit our website at www.wallingfordfh.com.