Rocky Hill Obituary: Paul Miano, 91

Paul M. "Sonny" Miano, 91, of Rocky Hill, died peacefully, Monday, April 4, 2016 at St. Francis Hospital. He was predeceased by his first wife, Lucia (Intagliata) Miano in 1956 and his second wife, Arleen V. (Mikolajcik) Miano in 1991.

Paul was born February 17, 1925 in Hartford and was the son of the late Michael "Mickey" Miano and Minnie (Baldassario) Miano. Paul was a veteran and served proudly in the U.S. Army during WW II. He was a member of the 1383rd Engineers Pet. Dist. and was the third Army Engineer to set foot on Japan in 1945. After returning from the War, Paul worked for many years in family businesses at Mickey's Villanova Restaurant on Market St. in Hartford, Connecticut Carting Co., and C.J. Miano Realty and Mortgage Co. During the 1960's, Paul also operated the Patio Restaurant at Sound View Beach, the Town House Restaurant in Old Saybrook, and managed the bar and lounge at Cliffside Country Club in Avon, where he met Arleen.

He was an avid swimmer and loved spending time at Chalker Beach in Old Saybrook during the summer months and spending many winters in Florida. Paul had a keen interest in world history and technology and shared many hours of lively conversations, especially with close family friend Professor B. Dudley, who taught for many years at MIT. He was a lifelong fan of the New York Yankees and often reminisced of specific games and plays he got to see in person, which included all the greats from Babe Ruth through Derek Jeter.

In recent years, he enjoyed the regular get-togethers with all the surviving gang from the old East Side at "The Place to Be" on Franklin Avenue. He was a member of the American Legion and in 2014 was interviewed for the U. S. Library of Congress Veteran's History Project that collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans utilizing current technologies so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war. He was a communicant of St. Luke's Catholic Church in Hartford.

A loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather, Paul will be dearly missed by his children, Mary Paulette Pappalardo of New Britain, Michael P. Miano and his wife Pamela of Duxbury, MA, Carla T. Unwin and her husband Don of Rocky Hill, AnnMarie Murphy and her husband Chris of Clearwater, FL, John J. Mikolajcik of Burlington, and Donald G. Mikolajcik and his wife Maureen of Plainville; 12 adored grandchildren, Mary Lauren Pappalardo of New Britain, Andrea Rossi and her husband John of Plainville, Gina M. Gerdin and her wife Roisin of Rockland, MA, Paul M. Miano and his wife Leigh of Bourne, MA, Carl W. Unwin of Wethersfield, Dina M. Unwin of Cromwell, Michele LaRosa and Anthony LaRosa of Tampa, FL, Rachel LaRosa of Louisville, KY, Jason E. Mikolajcik and companion T'Ann Tucker of Colebrook, Brian G. Mikolajcik and Tyler J. Mikolajcik, both of Plainville and nine cherished great-grandchildren, Alyssa M. Pappalardo of Queensbury, NY, Olivia and Gianna Rossi of Plainville, Ethan P. Miano of Bourne, MA, Jack Gerdin of Rockland, MA, Hunter Mikolajcik and Ali Tucker of Colebrook, and Landon and Rylee Doughty of Louisville, KY. Paul is also survived by his sister, Michele M. Bradley and her husband Jim of Port St. Lucie, FL and Old Saybrook; his aunt, Catherine (Festa) Pizzoferrato of Newington, and three sisters-in-law, Mary Ellen (Intagliata) Massaro of Hartford, Josephine (Sipala) Miano of Manchester and Sacramento, CA and Lillian Miano of Rocky Hill, as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was predeceased by his brothers, Charles J. "Snooky" and Richard M. Miano; his son-in-law, Anthony Pappalardo; granddaughter, Christine Pappalardo; brothers-in-law, the Reverend Anthony Intagliata and Jon F. Massaro and his dear aunt, Dorothy Romano. His kindness and generosity will always be remembered.

Funeral services will be Saturday at 9:15 a.m. at the D'Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Blvd., Wethersfield followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at St. Luke's Church, 66 Bolton Street, Hartford. The burial with military honors will be in Mt. St. Benedict Cemetery, Bloomfield. Calling hours are Friday from 4-7 p.m. at the funeral chapel.

Donations in Paul's memory may be made to the following organizations; Legacy of A Hero-L/CPL Chris Cosgrove Foundation, 154 Whisper Way E., Ledgewood, NJ 07852-2128, the USO, 2111 Wilson Blvd., Suite 1200, Arlington, VA 22201 or Boys Town New England, 58 Flanagan Rd., Portsmouth, RI 02871.

To share a memory of Paul with his family, please visit www.desopo.com.