DOB/DOD: June 15, 1919 (Leominster, MA) – June 8, 1989 (Norwalk, CT); 69 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Married Patricia Evelyn Credit (1918-2004) on January 30, 1943 in Shirley, Massachusetts
CHILDREN: One daughter, Donna Pellegrini Napoleon (1949-). One son, Lawrence (1951-).
LOCAL ADDRESS: 29 Grandview Avenue, Norwalk
ENLISTMENT: February 15, 1943
SERVICE NUMBER: 31259964
DISCHARGE: January 5, 1946
UNIT: 773rd Field Artillery Battalion
FAMILY: Born to Giuseppe (1877-1965) and Giovanna “Jenny” Cugini Pellegrini (1879-1957), both of whom were born in Italy. Three brothers, Biagio (1906-1927), Gerardo (1912-1977) and Lucio “Larry” (1918-2003). Five sisters, Antoinette (1902-1966), Cecelia Cefidia Pelegrini Leone (1911-2005), Natacia Anne Pelegrini Leone (1914-2006), Antonia Pelegrini Mazzola (1902-1986), and Pasqualina Pelegrini Dovideo (1918-2006).
OTHER: Owner of Pellegrini Jewelry Store at 129 Washington Street (then 81, now 83 Washington Street) in Norwalk. Opened in 1951.
CIRCUMSTANCES: Wounded in action in France on July 4, 1944. Awarded the Purple Heart Medal.
Leominster High School, Class of 1937
From The Norwalk Hour June 12, 1989
Loreto “Larry” Pellegrini was remembered as ‘‘a man of the people” during a Mass of Christian burial celebrated Saturday in St. Matthew’s Church. The Rev. Joseph J. Kohut, pastor, recalled that Mr. Pellegrini had established an “unusual rapport” with his customers that had made him more their friend than a retail merchant. A native of Leominster, Mass., who had come here in 1949 as a watchmaker with Pinkas Jewelers on Washington Street, he had opened his first store in 1951 at 129 Washington St. He had graduated from the Bulova Watch Co. School on Long Island and had studied to become a gemologist by that time. When he opened his store, South Norwalk was a bustling retail center frequented by Rowaytonites and others on the outskirts of the city. During the next decade, he saw that traffic declined dramatically with the proliferation of shopping centers and, especially following the construction of a new highway in the mid-1950s connecting Rowayton with Darien. One after another of his retail friends closed their doors and went elsewhere. By the late 1960s, the majority of Mr. Pellegrini’s clientele were from the minority population. He built new relationships with them and, in recent years, had taken delight in serving their children and grandchildren. Throughout his retailing experience on Washington Street, Mr. Pellegrini never gave up on its potential. He was fully supportive of the efforts to rehabilitate the area in the 1970s when the majority opinion was in the negative. He moved his business to 81 Washington St. during the period and more recently purchased a condominium at 83-85 Washington St., where he had been aided by his wife, Patricia C. Pellegrini, and his son, Lawrence Pellegrini. James Mennino Sr., a longtime friend, also helped out on occasion. They will continue the business. A large number of friends and admirers attended the service at St. Matthew’s. Many of them went to Riverside Cemetery, where military honors were bestowed by members of the 2nd Battalion, 192nd Field Artillery of the Connecticut Army National Guard, who served as honorary pallbearers and firing squad. Ronald M. Secchi Jr. was bugler. Mr. Pellegrini had seen action in Europe during World War II with the 773rd Field Artillery unit and had suffered severe wounds during an Allied breakthrough of the German lines that had put him in military hospitals for 18 months. He received the Purple Heart and several battle stars. Pallbearers were Thomas Incerto, Dominic Tesauro, Joseph Massaro, and Emmett Rogers, all members of the Catholic War Veterans, and James Mennino Jr. and David Benette. Mr. Pellegrini, 69, of Newtown Avenue, died Thursday at home. The family requests that contributions be made to the American Heart Association, 941 Danbury Road, Georgetown 06829. Collins Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Buried in Riverside Cemetery, 81 Riverside Avenue, Norwalk. Section 23. Photos provided by family.
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