Obituary of Vincent J. Lupinacci

Vincent J. "Marino" Lupinacci Jr., 82, of Darien, died Sept. 30 after a long and fulfilling life. Born in Stamford on April 29, 1932, son of Vincent and Josephine Lupinacci of Finney Lane, he moved to Darien in 1968, but was always a Stamford native at heart. He worked at Pitney Bowes in Stamford for 44 years and retired in 1994. He spent the past 20 years traveling the world, enjoying his grandchildren and spending time in his vegetable garden. He graduated from Stamford High School in 1950. He was a proud veteran of the U.S. Army, having served in Germany in the 1950s. He served as president of the Stamford Pop Warner football league in the 1960s, when games were played at Cubeta Stadium and he could be seen Sunday mornings lining the field, putting up yard markers and enlisting his family to help out. He worked for many years as a volunteer with United Cerebral Palsy of Connecticut, serving as a member of the board of directors and on a committee that was instrumental in establishing regional care centers in lower Fairfield County. He also managed local cerebral palsy telethons in the Stamford area as part of the national effort. He served for many years as president and a member of the board of directors of the Pitney Bowes Credit Union. He loved to play golf and often could be seen at Stamford's old Hubbard Heights, using his sons as caddies and teaching them the game. He had a tremendous love of gardening and was always proud of his highly productive fig trees and tomatoes. He had a plot for many years at Cherry Lawn community garden, which he called his North Forty, and could be seen there often, with a sprig of basil leaves tucked behind an ear. He was a member of St. Thomas More Church in Darien. He was a charter member of the Knights of Columbus in Stamford, as well as a member of the Piedmont Club in Darien. He enjoyed the company of family and friends at numerous men's nights and family nights. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Mary; four sons and two daughters: Paul, of Yardley, Pa., (and his wife, Elizabeth); Debra, of Darien; David, of Norwalk (Stephanie); Susan Gottlieb, of Stratford (Steve); Steven, of Westport (Andrea); Kevin, of New Hartford; nine grandchildren: Benjamin, Anna, Zachary, Joseph, Domenick, Erika, Emily, Mary and Matthew; sisters-in-laws Jean Pensiero and Lydia Lupinacci; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a son, Gary, and his brother, Anthony. Calling hours will be held on Thursday, October 2, 2014 at the Edward Lawrence Funeral Home, 2119 Post Road in Darien from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be on Friday, October 3, 2014 at 10:30 AM at St. Thomas More Church, 374 Middlesex Road in Darien. Burial will follow in Spring Grove Cemetery. The family would like to thank the following for their care and spiritual support: Post 53, Darien Police Department, the nurses and doctors at Stamford Hospital, Libby Tracey of Masonicare Hospice; Monsignor Peter Dora and the Rev. Paul Murphy, Dr. William J. Giesen and Dr. Robert L. Labarre. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Post 53, Ledge Road, P. O. Box 2066, Darien, CT 06820. www.lawrencefuneralhome.com Funeral Home: Edward Lawrence Funeral Home 2119 Post Road Darien, CT USA 06820