Stratford Death Notices: March 26 Through April 6, 2026

STRATFORD, CT — Below are recent death notices from Stratford.

Richard W. Tenk, 61, died March 26, 2026. He began his career as an auto body painter alongside his father at Kal’s Auto Body and continuing at several shops, and enjoyed DJing events as “RIP the ROCK,” attending rock concerts especially Judas Priest, and fishing in Pulaski, NY, on Bantam Lake, and locally on his pontoon boat “The Fish Tenk.”

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Richard “Richie” Iannotti, 79, died March 26, 2026. A U.S. Air Force veteran who served in Thailand, he worked with the fire department at Sikorsky Aircraft, then for Southern Ct. Gas Company for over 20 years and Burns Construction Company until retiring in 2025, and was known for his strong work ethic and for opening conversations with jokes and humor to put others at ease.

Irene G. (Spitz) Kostzewski, 90, died March 29, 2026. A retired Multi-Media Department secretary for the Stratford Board of Education, she was a devout Catholic who was passionate about her family and active in charitable fundraising and maintaining close friendships.

Carmen (Junior, Jukie) F. Testi Jr., 84, died March 30, 2026. He worked in the family business at Stonybrook Restaurant from 1961 until its closing and later at ABCO Welding, and served in the National Guard Reserves, on the Stratford Housing Authority, and as chair of the Stratford Redevelopment Committee in 1970, while also teaching PE at Our Lady of Grace School, supporting local athletics including the Stonybrook J.A.W.S men’s softball team and earning induction into the CASA Softball Hall of Fame, and enjoying tinkering with cars and his award-winning three-wheeled motorcycle.

Robert Alexander James Sr., 82, died April 3, 2026. He worked at R.E. Michel, and coached youth baseball, basketball, and soccer through Sterling House while following the Boston Red Sox, Boston Celtics, Green Bay Packers, and UConn Huskies, watching PGA events, reading the newspaper, working in the yard, traveling to Hilton Head, South Carolina, and attending his grandchildren’s sporting events.

Robert Joseph Voccola, 54, died April 4, 2026. A member of Local 478 Operating Engineers for over 25 years who enjoyed ocean vacations especially to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, followed sports including the San Francisco 49ers and Boston Red Sox, played softball, horseshoes and billiards, coached little league, cooked and grilled, gardened and maintained a pond, worked as a handyman, and spent time tinkering with motorcycles and small engines while known for his humor and sociable nature.

Antoinette “Nettie” (Farina) Dias, 99, died April 4, 2026. She spent most of her career at Perkin Elmer, and enjoyed baking apple pies, preparing homemade Italian cooking, talking with her children and sisters, caring for animals including her dog Tweaker and feeding squirrels, and reading the Bible daily while sharing her faith with others.

Joyce Smith, 87, died April 6, 2026. A lifelong Stratford resident, she graduated from Stratford High School and Butler Business School, and worked at the accounting firm of Nestor, Sarka and Schurmann for more than 40 years.