Obituary of Donald Narducci

Donald C. Narducci, husband, father, brother, grandfather, uncle and mentor passed from this life on August 18, 2011 surrounded by his loving family. He was born on March 29, 1927 to Rose (Mancini) and Domenic Narducci in Naugatuck, CT. He attended the Naugatuck school system and graduated from high school in 1944. He enrolled in the engineering program at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana and completed his freshman year before being drafted into the United States Army. Don served his country in the occupation of Berlin, Germany from 1945-1946 and upon completion of his faithful service to our country continued his education at Notre Dame earning a degree in Electrical Engineering in 1950. During his time at the university he met Marjorie Ruetz, the love of his life. They were married on April 11, 1953 in Indiana. Don was hired by the Uniroyal Corporation, where he began a 25 year career in an industry that would take him across the country and to his current home in Cheshire. He pursued higher education at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in a program for advanced studies in engineering and also at the University of New Haven where he earned a Master's degree in electrical engineering in 1978. Don's career in industry would end with Farrell Corporation. The final 23 years of Don's professional career was joyfully undertaken teaching in the technical college system in Connecticut starting at Hartford State Technical College and finishing at Waterbury State Technical College (Naugatuck Valley Community College). While teaching in Waterbury, Don initiated a solar electric vehicle program that, with the help of motivated students, built several hybridized solar vehicles that were entered into 12 Tour de Sols, often earning recognition and awards for his student teams. He retired from the educational system as a tenured professor having taught numerous students with his practical and witty teaching style. Retirement did not slow this irrepressible man down and he soon found a new passion with the co-founding of Cheshire Interfaith Housing (CIH), whose mission is to improve and provide housing opportunities for needful members of the community. Under the umbrella of CIH, Don and an array of volunteers constructed 5 new homes and rehabilitated numerous others providing quality affordable domiciles for many families. Through this work Don and his community were able to share in the bounty they were entrusted and to create loving environments and strong community connectedness. With tireless service to family and community, he was able to plant the seeds of hope and compassion that has been the prime motivation of his life. This work continued until the end of his earthly days with the implementation of Harvest Now, another endeavor that encourages the use of Church property to grow vegetables for the needy. He planned and planted the garden for the St. Thomas Becket Church property, along with volunteers from the parish, which is providing a harvest of vegetables for those in need. Don is deeply missed by those whose lives he has touched but, if you were fortunate to have been touched by his life's work, his spirit will continue to inspire. Don's work is continued by his loving wife of 58 years Marjorie Narducci and their 7 children and spouses; Mark and Tina Narducci of Watertown, NY, Tom and Sue Narducci of Collinsville, CT, Tony and Maria (Narducci) Dias of Wallingford, CT, Paul and Bonnie Narducci of Wallingford, CT, Daniel and Heather Narducci of Bloomington, Indiana, and Andrew and Tessa Narducci of North Conway, NH, and foster son, Sovanath and Ling Khut of Bristol, CT and his twelve grandchildren; Nathan, Bill, Colin, Sara, Adam, Joseph, Lukas, Nicolas, Jonathan, Aubrey, Liam, and Angelina, his brother and sister-in-law, Domenic and Josephine Narducci of Southbury and numerous nieces and nephews. Calling hours for Don will be Sunday September 4th from 2pm-5pm at Alderson Funeral Home of Cheshire 615 South Main Street (Route 10). A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on September 5th at 2:30 pm at St. Thomas Becket Church, 425 North Brooksvale Road, Cheshire. In lieu of flowers donations may be offered to the Transverse Myelitis Foundation, 1787 Sutter Parkway, Powell, OH 43065-1806 or Cheshire Interfaith Housing, PO Box 3, Cheshire, CT 06410.