Thomas Mariconda, 81, lived in New Milford

Thomas Mariconda, 81, died Aug. 29, 2012. He was the widower of Kathleen "Kay" (Fenton) Mariconda. He was a longtime resident of Stratford.

He was born Feb. 9, 1931, in Bridgeport, son of the late Tomasso and Jenny Rutoli Mariconda.

He was a graduate of Harding High School, and served in the U.S. Marine Corp. from 1951-54.

Mr. Mariconda retired as a manager from the A&P company.

Known to many as "Pop," he was an excellent cook who was well known and loved for his special recipes.

As a youth, he was a dedicated athlete and kept in touch with former buddies from the Orcutt Boys Club in Bridgeport, many of whom attended Harding High School with him. He joined them 60 years later for breakfast or lunch dates when he returned to Connecticut in 2006.

In his last two years, he looked forward to daily coffee and current sports talk with Stu Oram every morning when he moved to Virginia in January 2011.

Mr. Mariconda was a huge New York Yankees and New York Giants fan.

He was a former member of the B.P.O.E. and Moose Lodge in Naples, Fla., where he lived with Kay for 25 years until her death in 2006. After her death, he moved to New Milford.

Mr. Mariconda is survived by two sons, David Mariconda, of Nellysford, Va., and his wife, Denise, whom he resided with until his death, and Kevin Mariconda of Stratford, and his wife, Margie; five grandchildren, Brian, Zachary, Kyle, Evan and Gillian Mariconda, whom he looked forward to spending time with and gave him great joy; a brother, Dominic Mariconda, and his wife, Eleanor, of Stratford; three sisters, Mary Mottola and her husband, Jimmy, of Milford, Shirley Toth and her husband, Richard, of Southington, and Jean Guidone of Dallas, Texas; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by two brothers, Nicholas Mariconda and his wife, Helen, and Salvatore Mariconda and his wife, Mary; two sisters, Anna Esposito and her husband, Joe, and Tina Peters and her husband, Charlie; and a brother-in-law, Frank Guidone.

Calling hours will be held Sept. 20 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Adzima's Funeral Home in Stratford.

Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a charity of one's choice.