Alfonso M. Cavaliere

Mystic - Alfonso M. Cavaliere, 100, of Stoneridge Retirement Community in Mystic, formerly of New Haven, passed away peacefully on Oct. 22, 2015, after a brief illness.

Alfonso was born in New Haven, on Dec. 28, 1914, to the late Pasquale Cavaliere and Giovanna Maria (Palladino) Cavaliere. In 1937 he received a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from Northeastern University. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army and was appointed to the staff of photo interpretation section of Military Intelligence School and served in the Pentagon for special structural bomb damage photo interpretation work with the Bureau of Economic Research. After the war, he continued his studies at the University of Rome, School of Architecture. His engineering career began in 1937 at Truscon Steel Co., Youngstown, Ohio, and ended 57 years later at Seelye Stevenson Value & Knecht at the age of 80, where he was in charge of reviewing bridge construction projects. He held various jobs and supervisory positions with the Connecticut Highway Department, Hamilton Standard, Arthur G. Beaulieu Associates and Westcott and Mapes, where he served as vice president and director and chief structural engineer. As a registered engineer in Connecticut, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Vermont, he worked on numerous buildings, schools, churches, power plants and bridges. Among them were, Becton Laboratory at Yale University, the Doctors Building of New Haven, the first pre-stressed pre-cast high rise concrete structure in the eastern United States, the Southern New England Telephone building and the rehabilitation of many older highway bridges as well as both fixed and movable span railroad bridges.

He was a Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers, charter member of the Structural Engineering Institute of the American Society of Civil Engineers, past president and director of the Connecticut section of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Connecticut Engineers in Private Practice. He was a former member of the Board of Appeals to the building inspector and the Board of Zoning Appeals, City of New Haven; a member of the arbitration committee of the American Arbitration Association, Saint Andrew Society; life member of the Presidents Club, Northeastern University; Fourth Degree Knight, Knights of Columbus.

Alfonso is survived by his daughter, Anna Maria Cappetta of Madison; son, Attorney Pasquale (Karen Sheehan) Cavaliere of Stonington; and grandchildren, Robert of Boston, Catherine, William and Elizabeth Cavaliere of Stonington. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by Elvira Bove Cavaliere, his beloved wife of 62 years; and his sisters, Rose Cavaliere and Jean Cavaliere.

Family and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial at Saint Bernadetts's Church, New Haven, at 10 a.m. Wednesday and burial at Saint Lawrence Cemetery. There will be no visiting hours.

Al's family would like to express thanks to the staff and caregivers at Avalon Health Center and StoneRidge for their loving attention and care. And a special thanks to Dr. Bartel Crisafi and his staff who were always there whenever needed; Brenda Wilson of Keep Me Home, his caregiver; Nora and Delia, his nurse and aid; and Maria, his hospice nurse, for the loving care and comfort they gave.

Winfield and Sons Funeral Home, Scituate, R.I., (401) 647-5421, is in charge of arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Saint Francis Friends of the Poor, 155 West 22nd St., FL 1, New York, NY 100114-1168 and the Center for Hospice Care Southeast Connecticut, 227 Dunham St, Norwich, CT 06360.