Raymond (“Ray”) Francis DeLuca, 94, a longtime Stamford resident, passed away peacefully on December 22, 2022. Ray was born in Bridgeport, CT on October 13, 1928, to the late Alfred and Palmira Fiorello DeLuca.
Ray earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering from the University of Connecticut. Following graduation, he joined the U.S. Army National Guard, where he served as a commissioned officer for 20 years, and retired with the rank of Captain. Ray was the director of design engineering at Georgia-Pacific for more than 30 years, and secured over 30 patents during that time.
Ray remained very active throughout his retirement. He was a gifted artist, and his love of art and drawing led him to teach art classes at the Stamford Senior Center until 2019. Ray poured his talent and love for family into many beautiful paintings and murals he created for his family and friends over the years – which they will cherish forever.
In addition to serving on the board of Stamford Parks & Recreation, Ray gladly volunteered his time and cooking skills at his children’s schools and Our Lady Star of the Sea Church – where he helped run the carnival for several years. What Ray enjoyed most was spending time with his beloved family – especially his five grandchildren.
Ray is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Elizabeth Spoto DeLuca; his children – Patricia DeLuca, Susan DeLuca, Lisa Morris (John), and Mark DeLuca (Betse); his grandchildren – Maximus DeLuca, Luke Morris, Jake DeLuca, Ava DeLuca, and Mia DeLuca. Ray’s sisters-in-law, brother-in-law, and several nieces, nephews, and cousins also survive him.
In addition to his parents, Ray was predeceased by his brother, Freddie DeLuca; his in-laws, Vera and Paul Spoto, and his brother-in-law, Stanley Tyska.
A funeral procession will leave the Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home and Crematory, 104 Myrtle Avenue, Stamford, CT at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, December 28, 2022. It will proceed to Our Lady Star of the Sea R.C. Church, 1200 Shippan Avenue, Stamford, CT for a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 10 a.m. Entombment will follow at St. George’s Mausoleum at Woodland Cemetery, Stamford, CT. Family and friends may call at the funeral home on Tuesday, December 27, 2022, from 3 to 7 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Ray’s memory to Fairfield County Hospice House, 1 Den Road, Stamford, CT 06902.
To leave online condolences, please visit www.cognetta.com.

Concetta (Connie) Grace D’Agostino (Totilo), a longtime resident of Stamford, CT, and a beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, and friend passed away at her grandson Jamie’s home on December 18th. She was born in Providence, RI on May 15, 1927, and was one of eight children born to the late Michael and Pasqualina Rainone Totilo. Connie was 95 years old at the time of her passing.
She met Joe D’Agostino in 1946 after his return from WWII and they were married in 1948. In 1955 Connie and Joe opened Joseph’s Decorating Studio which they operated for over 40 years. They made custom drapes, slipcovers, and upholstered furniture.
Connie also excelled at cooking and baking. Her manicotti and chicken soup were family favorites as well as her Christmas cookies and especially her anisette cookies. Her dining room was always open to family and friends and often she would serve impromptu meals.
Connie and Joe spent many winters in Florida and despite the good Florida weather she couldn’t wait to get home to be with her family. She prayed the rosary for her family’s benefit every day.
Connie was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Joseph R. D’Agostino, Sr. in 2014. She is survived by three sons: Ralph D’Agostino and wife Donna, Jeffery D’Agostino and wife Dina, and Joseph D’Agostino, Jr. and his partner Karen; six grandchildren; Jamie and his wife Susan, Justin and his wife Lindsay, Melissa, Arianna, Chelsea and Rebecca D’Agostino; three great-grandchildren; Charlotte, Chloe and Lia D’Agostino and a sister, Natalie Sorbo.
In addition to her husband and parents, Connie was predeceased by her two children Joseph and Michael, brothers Nicholas, Joseph and Anthony Totilo, and sisters Margaret Totilo, Angie Dutetre and Mary Gabriele.
Friends and family may call at the Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Myrtle Ave., Stamford, CT on December 21, 2022 from 4 to 8 PM, with a mass of Christian burial to be celebrated on December 22, 2022 at 10:30 AM, at The Church of St. Cecilia, 1184 Newfield Avenue, Stamford, CT 06905. The interment will immediately follow mass at St. John R.C. Cemetery in Darien.
Memorial donations may be made to: American Diabetes Association or American Heart Association
To leave an online condolence please visit www.Cognetta.com.

Donald F. Zezima of Stamford, CT – dedicated father, loyal friend and loving husband to the late Lucia Thompson Zezima – died on December 14, at his home in Stamford, CT at the age of 95. An accomplished lawyer, devoted family man, avid reader, storyteller, singer, traveler and civic leader, Donald brought wisdom, joy and laughter to everyone in his orbit and will be sorely missed.
Born on March 21, 1927 at Stamford Hospital, he was the son of the late Michael D. Zezima and Frances Tamburri Zezima, both of Stamford.
Donald graduated from Stamford High School in 1945, while serving in the United States Navy in the Pacific during World War II. He was honorably discharged from service, after which he attended and graduated from Boston University College of Business Administration and then the Boston University School of Law. He was admitted to both the Connecticut and Massachusetts Bar in 1953. He returned to Stamford and went into private practice, establishing the firm of Macrides & Zezima in 1955, later becoming Macrides, Zezima & Schwartz and then Macrides, Zezima & Christiano. Donald was also admitted to practice before the Connecticut State and Federal Courts, the United States District Courts in the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, as well as before the United States Supreme Court.
Donald was engaged in his legal practice for over 60 years, including some important trial work. Among his notable clients and cases was one where he successfully represented two officers of the Stamford police department in a libel suit, Hogan and Maloney v. New York Times, 313 F. 2d 354, a Second Circuit case that predated but applied the standard of fault, “actual malice,” used in the landmark New York Times v. Sullivan, which established actual malice as the standard of fault in libel cases against public figures. He also was instrumental as counsel to paving the way for the City of Stamford’s development of Sterling Farms golf course, and he played a key role in the “Travis the Chimp” litigation.
Donald served as Treasurer and Vice President of the Stamford Bar Association. He continued to practice law and remain in good standing before the State and local Bar Associations well into his 90s, and he remained active in the Stamford community until the end.
A devoted son of Stamford in regard to family, friendships and civic activities, Donald’s passion for his hometown and family was nearly matched by his passion for politics. He was very active in the Republican party at the national, state and local levels, often serving as local elder statesman/advisor for budding politicians. He was ecumenical in his support, even giving aspiring Democratic candidates his advice and recommendation at times. He served as chairman of the state of Connecticut Republican Central Committee. He was also a member of the Stamford Republican Town Committee and the Richmond Park Republican Club.
Donald served as chairman of Stamford’s Committee for Public Safety, which oversaw the police and fire commissions. He served on the board of trustees of the Low Heywood Thomas School (now King School), and was involved with many other charitable organizations. He sat on the Board of Directors of the Italian Center of Stamford for decades, and was steadfastly devoted to the club’s success.
Donald was a modern Renaissance man before that was even a thing, being a talented and passionate singer, wine collector, reader (particularly of history), fitness enthusiast, member of DORA (the Dawdling Outdoor Runners’ Association), cross-country skier, and boater. If you were ever at Dominick’s on Arthur Avenue in the Bronx on a Good Friday, you may have caught Donald’s annual performance of “Let Me Call You Sweetheart,” which was always a crowd-pleaser. He stayed physically active until late in life and was a long-time member of the former Stamford YMCA and the Jewish Community Center. The life of any party, Donald also had a quick wit and a talent for both storytelling and crafting unique and outlandish sayings, such as “Whether you’re handsome or you’re ugly, it’s nice to know you have a face,” or, “I got class I ain’t never used yet.” He might also break into his heart-felt renditions of Sinatra’s “My Way,” “It Was a Very Good Year,” or “September Song.”
Donald’s greatest passion was for his wife – the love of his life, his Lucia, whom he married in 1961. (The two even named their boat The Don Lucia.) His other great passions were for his children, his boisterous extended family, and for the large group of loyal friends he cultivated throughout his life. A perfect day for Donald would include time spent at the Zezima homestead with Lucia, hosting those they loved– skating, sledding, playing family football or bocce, celebrating a holiday, clambake, or polenta party – or simply enjoying a good meal and fine wine with family, and friends who became family. As much as he loved his home, he also loved traveling near and far, especially with Lucia, and the two went on many adventures: to China, across Europe, to Latin America, and around the U.S (including annual trips to various historical Revolutionary and Civil War sites).
Donald was predeceased by his beloved wife, Lucia T. Zezima, and brothers Michael Zezima Jr. and Francis Zezima. He is survived by his three daughters; and their husbands, Carolyn E. Zezima of New York City (Gary Wiss), Sharon S. Zezima, of Orinda, CA (Kal Deutsch), and Catherine L. Zezima Watson of Stamford (Steve Watson); his granddaughter, Isabelle, and grandson, Lucas; and many beloved nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, as well as his brother in-law, Lawrence Thompson (Jill Bunce Thompson) of Houston, TX.
Family and friends may call at the Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Myrtle Avenue, Stamford, CT on Monday, December 19, 2022 from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM. A graveside service will take place on Tuesday, December 20, 2022 at St. John’s Cemetery in Darien at 11:00 AM. A Celebration of Donald’s life, with lively tributes and eulogies, will immediately follow at Zody’s 19th Hole, 451 Stillwater Road, Stamford, CT at 12:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers, try to keep this one of Donald’s many pearls of wisdom in mind as you go forth: “Wherever you go, there you are…”
To leave online condolences, please visit www.cognetta.com.

Joseph Patrick Scarella was born in Stamford, CT on November 15, 1940, and passed away on December 1, 2022, in Myrtle Beach, SC. He is survived by his long-time partner, Hayley Lauritsen; children, Jolene Scarella of Oakland, CA; Patrick Scarella (Jeanne) of Barrington, RI; and Mark Scarella (Lorena) of Fairfield, NJ; grandchildren, Matthew, Jenna, and Emilia; sisters, Connie Stevenson of Stamford, CT and Andrea Grabowski of Parker, CO; several nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends that loved him. He was preceded in death by his parents, Patrick and Mildred Scarella (Cooke) and son, Daniel.
Joe was a proud member of the Stamford High School class of 1958 where he played multiple sports. Joe attended Iowa Wesleyan College and the University of Connecticut where he graduated with a B.S. in Political Science. He was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. After college he joined the Army Reserves and served honorably from 1962-1968. He was an amateur boxer in the Army and loved to joke that his nickname was Rembrandt because he spent so much time on the canvas. He worked in Operations for many years, but really excelled at retirement! He had a wonderful sense of humor and smile that could light up a room. He cared very deeply for his family and friends. While we take comfort in knowing that we will see him again someday, our hearts are broken.
Family and friends may call at the Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home, 104 Myrtle Avenue, Stamford, CT on Thursday, December 22, 2022, from 1:00pm-4:00pm with a memorial service to honor his life taking place at 3:00pm.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made in Joe’s memory to the National Kidney Foundation. www.kidney.org/donate.
To leave messages of condolence online please visit www.cognetta.com.