Manchester Obituary: Leonard Granell, 76

Leonard J. “Butch” Granell, 76, of Manchester and formerly of East Hartford, loving husband of 29 years of Denise (Frasca) Granell, passed away on Thursday, October 12, 2017 surrounded by his loving family after a long and courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.

Born in Hartford on April 18, 1941, a son of the late Leonard Joseph and Minnie (DiDonato) Granell, Butch had resided in East Hartford for most of his life prior to moving to Manchester in 2005. Butch was a graduate of East Hartford High School, Class of 1959 and was a proud veteran of the U.S. Army during the Vietnam Era.

In 1968, Butch earned a black belt in Karate. He owned Tong Leong Karate in East Hartford and he competed in many tournaments throughout New England, where he won or placed in more than 80% while accumulating close to 100 trophies. In addition to Karate, he was an outstanding baseball player.

Butch joined Laborer’s Union Local 230 in June of 1970. During his career he held various positions as a general laborer. He was appointed Steward on many projects as well as Labor Foreman. He served on the Local Union Executive Board first as a Board Member, Recording Secretary, and Vice President. Butch also served as a Delegate to the Connecticut Laborers District Council as well as Auditor. In 1995 he was appointed as a field representative for Local 230 as well as Vice President, positions he held until his retirement on December 30, 2016.

He had a passion for the arts, sports, music, cars, and traveling, as he and Denise enjoyed vacationing in the Islands. He was also an avid fan of UConn women’s basketball and a parishioner of St. Bartholomew Church in Manchester.

He was universally loved and had a remarkable inner strength. He was a devoted husband, a loyal brother, and respected uncle. A kind and generous man that has touched the lives of many as a great friend and role model, his doctors referred to Butch as a walking marvel. Butch will be dearly missed and loved forever by all who knew him.

Along with his beloved wife Denise, Butch is survived by his brother, Robert A. “Bobby” Granell of East Hartford; his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Marjorie (Jacques) and Domenico Frasca of East Hartford; a sister-in-law, Donna M. Frasca of Ellington; a brother-in-law, Dominic Frasca of East Hartford; one Aunt, Ceil DiDonato of Southington; two uncles, Joseph “Yogi” DiDonato of Hartford, John DiDonato and his wife Pat of Manchester; two nephews, Gary Frasca of Mansfield, Nicholas Granell of Longmeadow, MA; two nieces, Darlene Frasca of Vernon, Nicole Frasca of South Windsor; several great-nephews and a great-niece; many cousins, devoted and cherished friends.

Funeral service will be Wednesday (October 18th) with a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated at 10 am at St. Bartholomew Church, 45 Ludlow Road, Manchester. Burial with military honors will follow at Mount Saint Benedict Cemetery, (Section H), Bloomfield. Butch’s family asks that everyone please go directly to the church on Wednesday morning. Butch’s family will receive relatives and friends on Tuesday (October 17th) from 4-7 pm at the D’Esopo-East Hartford Memorial Chapel, 30 Carter Street, East Hartford.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Butch’s name may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Department 142, Memphis, TN 38101-9908.

Butch’s family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to Dr. Gorusu, her entire staff, especially his devoted nurse Katie, and Hartford Hospital Oncology, CB2.

For on-line expressions of sympathy to the family please visit www.desopo.com.