Farmington Obituary: Thomas Drago, Jr., 80

Thomas A. Drago, Jr., beloved husband of 39 years to Doreen (Priola) Drago, passed away on Sunday, September 24, 2017 at Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center.

Tom was born in Hartford on January 27, 1937 to the late Thomas A. Drago, Sr. and Harriett Van der Eb Gledhill. He is also predeceased by his stepfather, Albert H. Gledhill, Sr. Tom graduated from Hall High School, class of 1955, and attended Holy Apostles College in Cromwell.

Tom was proud to serve in the United States Army for 3 years. He retired from the Hartford Fire Department after 34 years of service and he has worked for the past 17 years for Securitas Security Services at Otis Elevator in Farmington. Tom was a lifetime member of the following Hartford Fire Department organizations; HFD Local 760, Firefighters Retirees Association, Firemen’s Benevolent Association and Firemen’s Protective Association.

Tom was a member of St. Gregory the Great Church in Bristol for over 30 years and was also a member of the Sunday evening faith community at Holy Family Passionist Monastery. Tom loved to study world history, especially the World War II era and Bible history. He was a proud lifelong New York Rangers and Washington Redskins fan.

Tom enjoyed volunteering at the annual holiday party for children at the Helen & Harry Gray Cancer Center in Hartford. He also had a great love for animals and would often state that he had cats all of his life. Tom was a man of deep faith with a kind and caring heart. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Along with his loving wife Doreen, Tom is survived by his children; Colonel Steven Drago & wife Laura of CO, Karen Garrity & fiancé Pete Medina of CO, Robin Drago-Provencher & husband Thomas of CT, Lieutenant Colonel David Drago & wife Christine of VA, Lauren Drago & fiancé Pete Muto of MA, 11 grandchildren & 2 great grandchildren, sisters; Elizabeth McGinnis & husband Richard of CT and Sarah Gledhill of CA, brother; Albert H. Gledhill, Jr. & wife Kathleen of KS, many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews & cousins. Tom is also survived by a devoted sister-in-law, Beatrice Priola and her daughters & their spouses; Marnie & Marc Schulman, Darcie & Alex DePase and Carlie & Jarrod Fisher, all of CT.

Friends may call at St. Gregory the Great Church, 235 Maltby St., Bristol on Monday, October 2, 2017 from 10:00-11:00am. The Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated in St. Gregory the Great Church at 11:00am followed by burial with honors in Riverside Cemetery, Farmington.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Holy Family Passionist Monastery & Retreat Center, 303 Tunxis Rd., West Hartford, CT 06107 or to the Connecticut Humane Society, 701 Russel Rd., Newington, CT 06111.