USA > Connecticut > History of Connecticut, Volume IV > Part 10
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On October 21, 1944, Lewis P. Bailey married Lucy C. Stevens
Joseph I Cucinotta
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of Groton, the ceremony taking place in that city. She is a registered nurse, who received her professional training at Rhode Island Hos- pital in Providence.
JOSEPH L. CUCINOTTA
A mason by trade, Joseph L. Cucinotta has built up a prosperous contracting business in his own name at Essex. He is also influential in the public affairs of that town, and is currently serving as first selectman.
He is a native of Belmont, Massachusetts, and was born on No- vember 21, 1910, the son of Guy and Isabella (Petrali) Cucinotta. His father, who died in Belmont in 1956, was retired after devoting most of his career to the general contracting business in that place. Mrs. Cucinotta died the following year. Joseph L. Cucinotta received his education in the public elementary and high schools of Belmont. Until 1932 he was associated with his late father in the general con- tracting business in Belmont. In 1932 he became a contractor in his own right. Two years later he joined the Hub Plumbing and Heating Supply Company of Belmont as manager and remained in that con- nection until 1937.
In 1939 he moved to Centerbrook, and operated a service station at Deep River. He continued in this work until 1942, when he sold the service station, and took a position with Pratt, Read and Company at its glider plant at Deep River. There he served as a foreman on final assembly. In 1944, before the war was over, Mr. Cucinotta left to join R. W. Cramer Company of Centerbrook. This organization, now known as Cramer Controls Company, he served as a foreman in the machine shop. In 1946, he became associated with Centerbrook Home Builders, Inc., as a partner, holding the office of vice president. He sold his interest in Centerbrook Home Builders in 1952 to found his own contracting organization, the Cucinotta Construction Com- pany. This firm, which contracts for masonry work, he has headed since.
The first public office held by Mr. Cucinotta was that of justice of the peace of the Town of Essex, to which he was elected in 1951. Two years later he was elected second selectman on the Republican ticket; and he was elected first selectman in 1955. He was reelected to that office in 1957. He is also chief of the fire and police departments of the Town of Essex, and is treasurer of the Middlesex County Ambulance Association. He is treasurer of the Essex Dental Associa-
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tion Program, and is currently serving as president of the Essex Community Fund.
A member of the Lions Club at Essex, Mr. Cucinotta serves on its board of directors. He is a member of the Pettipaug Yacht Club, and of the lodges of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of which he is past Exalted Ruler and trustee. In Masonry he belongs to Mount Olive Lodge No. 52, of Essex. He is also a member of St. John's Men's Club. His religious affiliation is with All Saints Episcopal Church of Ivoryton, Connecticut.
On June 5, 1939, Joseph L. Cucinotta was married in Essex to a Centerbrook girl, Jennie Bella, who is the daughter of Anthony and Mary (Bombaci) Bella. Mrs. Cucinotta is a graduate of Pratt High School in Essex. The couple are the parents of three children : I. Isobel, who was born in Middletown on April 10, 1942. 2. Mary Lou, born on June 24, 1945, also at Middletown. Both of these girls are attending Valley Regional School. 3. Jean Carmele, born Novem- ber II, 1946; a student at Essex Elementary School.
LENDON F. DUTTON
Serving the Borough of Groton as superintendent of municipal public utilities, Lendon F. Dutton is an engineer by profession, who holds a number of other offices in local organizations. He is a native of Thompsonville and was born on September 26, 1897, son of Fred O. and Nellie G. (King) Dutton. Both parents are deceased. Fred Dutton was a merchant at Thompsonville. Lendon F. Dutton com- pleted his public school education and attended Enfield High School. At the time of World War I, he entered the United States Navy, and served as an electrician, second class.
From 1919 to 1928, he worked as installation and maintenance electrician for the New London Ship and Engineering Company of Groton, predecessor of the Electric Boat Company. He resigned from this connection in 1928 to join the Borough of Groton's utility depart- ment as an electric meterman. He has remained on the payroll of the borough since that time, and in 1942 was appointed superintendent of the water, electric, and sewage departments, in all of which he had had experience over the preceding fourteen years.
Mr. Dutton is also secretary of the Groton Bank and Trust Com- pany and serves on its board of directors. He is a member and past president of the Groton Lions Club, and a member and past com- mander of Groton Post No. 114 of the American Legion. He belongs
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to the Groton Chamber of Commerce, and as an engineer holds mem- bership in the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, the Amer- ican Water Works Association, the New England Water Works As- sociation, and the New England Sewage Works Association. His favorite pastimes are fishing and boating.
At Windsor Locks, on June 29, 1920, Lendon F. Dutton mar- ried Adelaide W. Watkins, daughter of Charles and Elizabeth (Flagg) Watkins. Mrs. Dutton is a graduate of Windsor Locks High School. The couple are the parents of three children: I. Lendon Frederick, Jr., who was born at New London on August 6, 1922. He graduated from Robert E. Fitch High School in Groton, and during World War II, served as a lieutenant in the Army Transportation Corps. Lendon F. Dutton, Jr., married Mary Bertuccio of Brooklyn, New York, and they have one daughter, Rosemary, born in 1946 in New London. 2. Ruth Elizabeth, born on May 28, 1934, in New London. She graduated from Robert E. Fitch High School, and is a registered nurse who received her professional training at the Hartford Hos- pital. She is the wife of Bernard Fuller of Mystic, and they have two children: i. Brenda. ii. Sherry. Mr. Fuller is now serving in the Army Signal Corps, in which he holds a lieutenant's commission, and he and his family are now on the island of Okinawa. 3. Dwight Alan, born in New London, on May 4, 1937. A graduate of Robert E. Fitch High School, he is now studying engineering at the Uni- versity of Connecticut.
RICHARD P. GROVER
The insurance and real estate firm at Mystic headed by Richard P. Grover has completed a quarter-century of successful operation- although it was exclusively an insurance firm during most of that time. Mr. Grover has several other business connections in his area, and takes a full part in its organizational and social life.
A native of Boston, Massachusetts, he was born on May 24, 1903, and is a son of Alfred C. and Ethel (Peterson) Grover. Com- pleting his preparatory studies at Worcester Academy, also in Massa- chusetts, he graduated there in 1921, and took his degree of Bachelor of Science with the Yale University Class of 1925S.
From 1928 to 1931, Mr. Grover was in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with that city's branch of the insurance department of the First Na- tional Bank of Boston. He settled in Mystic shortly after his return to this country, and there, on April 1, 1932, opened his own insurance agency. In the course of the intervening years, he has been joined by Conn. IV-8
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several other capable men: Robert S. Jones, also a Yale graduate, and Alec R. Switz, a Duke alumnus. In insurance matters, the firm has some of the largest clients in eastern Connecticut, including the Ponemah Mills, American Velvet Company, and Standard Machin- ery, among a total of fifteen hundred whose insurance needs it serves. The Grover agency opened its real estate division in 1956, and in that year Mr. Grover formed Seaport Heights, Inc., a real estate develop- ment creating homesites on seventy acres of land on a ridge back of the seaport of the Marine Historical Association. From this situation, there are unobstructed views across the Mystic River, making it one of the most attractive of residential locations currently available in the region. Here, homes in the twenty to twenty-five thousand-dollar bracket are being erected.
Besides the management of his agency, Mr. Grover is active in several other business connections locally. He is a trustee of the Gro- ton Savings Bank and the Elm Grove Cemetery Association, and has served as a director of the Rossie Velvet Company. He is president of the newly formed Seaport Heights, Inc. He serves as a trustee of the Elm Grove Cemetery.
Yachting is Mr. Grover's hobby. He has held office as commodore of the Ram Island Yacht Club, and as treasurer of the Masons' Island Yacht Club. His fraternity is Chi Phi, which he joined at Yale.
In Tucson, Arizona, on April 17, 1925, Richard P. Grover mar- ried Sallie Angel Wright, daughter of John B. Wright, who was formerly Attorney General of the State of Arizona, and his wife, the former Mary McPhee. Mr. and Mrs. Grover are the parents of a son, Richard Grover, Ph.D., who was born in Boxton on December 2, 1926. He graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter, New Hampshire, and in 1949, took his degree of Bachelor of Science at Yale University. From 1949 to 1955 he was on the staff of the Uni- versity of Rochester as a theoretical physicist. He took his doctorate at Rochester, and is now assigned to the Atomic Energy Laboratory at Livermore, California. Dr. Richard Grover married Pauline Ful- ler, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Fuller of Mystic. She is a graduate of Wheaton College, Noroton, Massachusetts. The couple have two children : i. David W., born December 21, 1952, in Rochester, New York. ii. Sallie Angel, born October II, 1954, in Mystic.
WILLIAM B. DODGE
The Cottrell Lumber Company at Mystic is the oldest firm of its kind in the state, having been established in 1815. Today, in addition
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to dealing in lumber and building materials, it handles contractors' supplies, hardware, paint, appliances and gifts. Its president over the last two decades has been William B. Dodge, who is also active in other business connections and belongs to a number of organizations.
A native of Mystic, Mr. Dodge was born on June 21, 19II, son of Charles Cottrell and Jennie (Brunson) Dodge. His father died in 1919. William B. Dodge attended Westminster School in Simsbury. In 1930 he went to the West Coast, and took a position as runner for a brokerage house in Los Angeles. After remaining in that connection for about a year, he returned to Mystic and joined The Cottrell Lum- ber Company. Five years later, in 1936, he was named president of the firm.
Mr. Dodge is a corporator of The Savings Bank of New London, and also a corporator of the Groton Savings Bank of Mystic. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce; and in consequence of his hobby of sailing, holds membership in the Cruising Club of Amer- ica, the Off-Soundings Yacht Club, Mason's Island Yacht Club, and the Royal Ocean Racing Club in England. At the time of World War II, he was absent serving as a lieutenant in the United States Navy, from April, 1942, until the autumn of 1945. He served in the Atlantic.
On October 10, 1942, at Melrose, Massachusetts, William B. Dodge married Mary Elizabeth Connor, daughter of Frank and Marie (Miller) Connor. Mrs. Dodge is a graduate of Melrose High School, and attended Chandler Secretarial School in Boston. The couple are the parents of three children : 1. Juliet Miller, who was born in Boston on October 14, 1945. 2. William Brunson, born August 10, 1948. 3. Georgianna Cottrell, born December 9, 1953.
WILLIAM B. LAPLACE
Owner of the LaPlace Furniture Store at Deep River, Willian B. LaPlace capably directs a business enterprise which has been in the family from the early years of the century. He is a native of Deep River, and was born on March 5, 1913, son of Simon R. and Ma- belle (Bissell) LaPlace. William LaPlace's mother died February I, 1919, before he reached his sixth birthday, and his father married, second, Helen Drown, who is now a member of the Connecticut State House of Representatives.
Attending the public schools of Deep River, Mr. LaPlace grad- uated from high school there, and entered Cornell University, where he graduated in 1935 with the degree of Bachelor of Science in Ad-
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ministrative Engineering. From 1936 to 1938, he worked as sales engineer for the Cornell-Dubilier Electric Company of South Plain- field, New Jersey.
Mr. LaPlace returned to his native town of Deep River in 1938, and joined his father, Simon LaPlace, in the furniture business. Their company was originally established in 1897 by C. D. Smith, but Simon LaPlace joined the organization in the early years of its existence, becoming its owner in 1901 and continuing at its head until his death in 1947. He was a prominent citizen of Deep River, president of the Deep River National Bank and at one time a member of the State House of Representatives. He was active in Masonry. His son worked with him closely in the management of LaPlace Furniture Company, and became its owner at his death in 1947.
He is a veteran of service in World War II, having entered the United States Army in December, 1940. Commissioned a lieutenant in the Ordnance Department, he won steady promotion to the rank of lieutenant colonel, which he held at the time of his separation from active service in December, 1946.
Mr. LaPlace formerly served as chairman of the board of educa- tion of the Valley Regional High School, and is now treasurer. He is superintendent and secretary of the Fountain Hill Cemetery As- sociation. Mr. LaPlace is also a director of the Riverside Trust Com- pany, Essex Branch. Active in the Deep River Chamber of Com- merce, he formerly served as its president. He is a Rotarian, and a member and past master of Trinity Lodge No. 43 of the Free and Accepted Masons at Deep River. Belonging to the higher bodies of the Scottish Rite, he holds the Thirty-second degree, and is a member of Sphinx Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, in Hartford. Mr. LaPlace and his family attend the Con- gregational Church. His hobby is gardening.
On August 20, 1939, William B. LaPlace married Jeanette Owen, daughter of William and Edith (Morrison) Owen. She is a native of Cape Breton, Canada. The couple are the parents of three children : I. William Owen, who was born in January, 1942, at Olym- pia, Washington. He is now attending Valley Regional High School. 2. Gayle Ann, born December 16, 1947, in Deep River. 3. Simon R., 2nd, born there on February 7, 1950.
JOHN R. WHEELER
The Standard Machinery Division of Franklin Research Corpo- ration, at Mystic, had a long industrial history as The Standard Ma-
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chinery Company before merger led to its present status in 1956. John R. Wheeler, who has been active in its management for many years, now holds the offices of vice president and director.
His father, the late Charles E. Wheeler, member of a pioneer family of Connecticut, had joined The Standard Machine Company in 1902 as manager, and became its sole owner in 1908. He married Emma Louise Willett, and their son, John R., was born at Caldwell, New Jersey, on July 13, 1895. In addition to John R. Wheeler, the couple had two other children. Norton C. Wheeler was born at Cald- well, New Jersey on August 22, 1891. He was with Standard Machine- ry Company from 1909 to 1956. He became president at the time of his father's death in 1933, and continued to hold this office until his retirement in 1956. He now resides at Ocean View, Mystic, Connecti cut. Edna Lockwood Wheeler, sister of our subject, was born in New- ark, New Jersey on August 18, 1887, and died at Rocky Lodge, Stonington, Connecticut on February 9, 1957. The family moved to Mystic in 1902. John R. Wheeler, however, completed his primary education at Elm Street Grammar School in Westerly, Rhode Island, and attended Westerly High School. He went from there to Worcester Polytechnic Institute, where he graduated in 1917 with the degree of Mechanical Engineer. Thereafter until 1919, he served in the Coast Artillery with a commission as captain. He spent twenty months in France, and attended an officers' training school at Clermont.
On returning to civilian life, he joined his father and brother in The Standard Machinery Company. He held the position of gen- eral manager at the time the merger of this firm, and of the Davis- Standard Sales Corporation, with Franklin Research Corporation took place. The division manufactures plastic and rubber extruders and related wire-insulating machinery.
Besides his executive position with this firm, Mr. Wheeler is a director of the Groton Savings Bank of Mystic. He is a trustee of the Mystic Marine Historical Association. His memberships include the Mystic Hook and Ladder Company, the city's Chamber of Com- merce, the Thames Club of New London, the Ram Island Yacht Club, and the Off-Soundings Club. Sailing is his hobby. He belongs to Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity, and attends Mystic Congregational Church.
At West Mystic, on April 26, 1921, John R. Wheeler married Fenner Marie Maxson, daughter of Charles P. and Emma L. (Rath- ke) Maxson. Mrs. Wheeler is a graduate of Williams Memorial In- stitute of New London. The couple are the parents of three children :
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I. Anita, who was born on June 4, 1922. She is a graduate of Fitch High School and of Sargent's School for Girls in Boston, and held a commission as lieutenant in the WAVES during World War II, being a physical therapist. She is now married to Philip C. Greene of Westerly, Rhode Island. Mr. Greene is a graduate of Norwich Uni- versity, and served as a lieutenant in the Armored Force, United States Army, during World War II, being in the European Theater of Operations. He is now sales manager with The Standard Machinery Division. The couple have three children: i. Rodman Wheeler. ii. Ri- chard Randolph. iii. Philip Cunningham, Jr. 2. John R., Jr., and 3. Richard M., twins, who were born on January 4, 1928. John graduated from Amherst College, and Richard attended local schools. Both sons are now with The Standard Machinery Division, John working in its sales department, and Richard as production manager.
LOUIS JOHN DARMSTADT
After varied experience in the construction, investment and bank- ing fields, Louis John Darmstadt found an opportunity to put his en- gineering training and technical talents to good use in a responsible post with the American Thermos Products Company at Norwich. A vice president of that corporation, he is in charge of engineering and research. He has taken a vital interest in public affairs, serving on his city's council.
A native of New York City, he was born on September 27, 1905, son of Charles H. and Marie (Gitz) Darmstadt. His father too was born in New York City, in 1863. In his later years he was engaged in construction, and his death occurred in 1951. Marie Gitz, whom he married, was born in New York City in 1868. She died in 1958.
Louis J. Darmstadt completed his secondary studies at Chelsea Preparatory School, graduating there in 1921, in his sixteenth year. He took his technical training at Massachusetts Institute of Tech- nology, where he took his degree of Bachelor of Science in Engineer- ing in 1926. He has since taken courses in economics at New York University.
In the early years of his career and until 1933, he was associated with his father in the construction industry. He left to join Dick and Merle-Smith in the investment business, being identified with their organization until 1940. For the next two years, Mr. Darmstadt was with the Guarantee Trust Company. In 1942 he joined the American Thermos Products Company of Norwich as chief engineer and was
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appointed vice president in charge of engineering and research in 1949.
A Republican, Mr. Darmstadt was elected to the city council of Norwich in 1957, and served for a two-year term. He is a member of the Educational Council of M.I.T. and serves as an "Honorary Secre- tary." He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and the Y.M.C. A., and is an active worker for the Boy Scouts of America, having served as vice president of the Eastern Connecticut Council. He still is active with the Ex-Members Association of Squadron "A" of New York. He is a trustee of the Pequot-Sepon Wildlife Sanctuary in Stonington and an associate of the Wood Hole Oceanographic Insti- tution. His fraternity is Theta Delta Chi. Mr. and Mrs. Darmstadt attend the Episcopal Church.
Mrs. Darmstadt, the former Miss Ruth Rickaby, was born in New York City on March I, 1905, daughter of Hamilton C. and Drucile (Archer) Rickaby. Her father, a lawyer practicing there, is now de- ceased as is Mrs. Rickaby. Both were born in New York City. Mrs. Darmstadt graduated from St. Agatha School in 1923, and from Bryn Mawr College in 1927 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. She became the wife of Louis John Darmstadt in New York on May 18, 1929. The couple have no children. Mrs. Darmstadt was a board member of the Young Women's Christian Association of New York. Her organizational interests in her present home city include Children's Services of Connecticut, the Republican Town Committee, League of Women Voters and United Fund. The couple live at 403 Washington Street, Norwichtown.
JOSEPH TIMOTHY MARINAN
Joseph Timothy Marinan is a native of New Haven, and was born on February 3, 1889, son of Michael and Margaret (Keane) Marinan. His father was born in Ireland in 1864, and came to the United States as a young man. Here he met and married Miss Keane, who had lived just fifteen miles from him in Ireland, although they had never met there.
Joseph T. Marinan graduated from Hillhouse High School in New Haven in 1906. He began his career as clerk in a retail drug store, and from 1908 to 1912 was purser and clerk with the Starin New Haven Steamship Line between New Haven and New York City. From 1912 to 1916, he operated the steamer "Elm City" be- tween New Haven and Port Jefferson, Long Island.
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Mr. Marinan's military career began in 1913 when he joined the Connecticut National Guard and went to the Mexican border in 1916 with Troop A. The following year his outfit was federalized and he was sent to France with the American Expeditionary Forces. Com- missioned a Lieutenant, he advanced to the rank of Captain in the course of his tour of duty. In 1919, following the conclusion of his active service, he entered the Army Reserve Corps, in which he re- mained until the age of sixty, retiring as Colonel.
When he resumed civilian life in 1919, Mr. Marinan entered the insurance business, becoming a branch office manager for Travelers Insurance Company. In this capacity he worked first at Hartford and later at New Haven. He continued with Travelers until Septem- ber 1, 1928. On that date he joined Lewis S. Welch of New Haven in forming an agency known as Lewis S. Welch, Incorporated. Mr. Welch was president of the company until his death, Mr. Marinan meantime serving as vice president and manager. He became presi- dent at his partner's death. The agency handles all forms of insurance.
Mr. Marinan has served his home city as president of the Board of Health. He was chairman of the New Haven Veterans' Commis- sion, and treasurer of Vocational Counseling Service, Inc. As a veteran of World War I, he is a member of the American Legion, and his other memberships include the Quinnipiac Club and the Knights of Columbus, San Salvador Post No. I.
In his native city of New Haven, on February 3, 1931, Joseph T. Marinan married Iva June Pilkington of Poughkeepsie, New York. Mr. and Mrs. Marinan reside at 233 Highland Street, New Haven. They are the parents of one son, Joseph Paul, who was born in New Haven on July 18, 1932; attended Hopkins Grammar School and Cheshire Academy, and graduated from Yale University in 1954 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and is now vice president, Lewis S. Welch, Incorporated and Captain in the Connecticut National Guard.
REVEREND LEO E. LAVALLÉE
Pastor of the Roman Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart of Groton, Connecticut, and of the Mission Stations of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Poquonnock Bridge and Our Lady of Lourdes, Gales Ferry, Connecticut, since 1954, Father Lavallée has been a member of the Catholic priesthood since 1927. He is a director of the Wethers- held State Penitentiary and he is a member of the Connecticut State Parole Board.
. AeR
The Reverend Det E. Lavallée
١
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Father Lavallée was born in Moosup, Connecticut, on January 10, 1902, the son of Joseph W. Lavallée and of Phoebe (Le Beau) Lavallée. His father was a pharmacist by profession and is now de- ceased. Father Lavallée attended All Hallows School in Moosup and Immaculate Conception School in Baltic, Connecticut, he studied at St. Hyacinthe Seminary in St. Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada, and he graduated from Saint Thomas Seminary in Hartford, Connecticut, where he was an outstanding athlete. He studied for the priesthood at Saint Mary's Seminary in Baltimore, Maryland, and he was or- dained at Saint Joseph's Cathedral in Hartford, Connecticut, on May 26, 1927.
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