Obituary: Richard J. Preneta, 88, Of Wallingford

WALLINGFORD, CT — (From Wallingford Funeral Home): Richard J. Preneta, 88, of Wallingford, passed away peacefully at his home on Tuesday, July 12, 2022 with his loving wife of 61 years, Rosemarie (DeVito) Preneta by his side.

Dick was born in Hartford, Connecticut on December 31, 1933, a son of the late Joseph and Mary (Krowka) Preneta and graduated from Hartford High School in 1953. He then served our country in the U.S. Air Force from 1953 to 1957 where he was stationed in California and Iceland. After his service, Dick entered the Porter School of Engineering Design where he used his three-dimensional mind to excel and graduate summa cum laude with a degree in Tool and Die Design.

Dick was a fixture in Wallingford’s food and spirits industry lending nearly 30 years of loyal service to countless patrons who were fed as much by his sandwiches as they were by his charm. He owned and operated the R & R Package Store from 1969 to 1977 and the Nutmeg Deli 1977 to 1997. Thereafter, he joined Masonicare Health Center’s Facilities Department where he served as a reliable handyman and trusted friend to numerous residents during his 16 year tenure until his retirement in 2013.

Dick was a passionate sports enthusiast. When he was eight years old, his uncles took him to his first baseball game. At his first sight of the field, he knew he would be a baseball fan for life. In 1944, he attended the famed Major League World Series match up in St. Louis, Missouri which pinned hometown rivals -- the Cardinals and the Browns -- against each other. The Cardinals took home the victory. From that moment on, Dick became a lifelong Cardinals fan.

He was also a longtime season passholder to UCONN Men’s Basketball games. He loved attending home games at Gampel Pavilion and cheering on the Huskies during March Madness. He was an energetic, vocal supporter and unabashed armchair referee.

Dick loved to dance and was first to the dance floor with Rosemarie whenever “New York, New York” or any Sinatra favorite played at a celebration. He turned heads with his unexpected elegance and bravado. Dick was a masterful cook. His homemade sausage, escarole soup, mashed potatoes, pizza gaina, and spaghetti and clams were unparalleled and earned rave reviews from family and friends who always requested seconds. Dick was also an avid wine maker. With his family and fellow compadres, he helped craft delicious varieties under his own namesake label raising each glass with great pride.

Dick had an easy laugh, a warm, gentle disposition and striking blue eyes for which he was often complimented. He was a skilled craftsman who could build anything from treasured wooden toy trains to outdoor patios and furniture. And, with an equal measure of grit and curiosity, Dick could fix anything. He welcomed any challenge and the opportunity to teach and inspire his kids along the way.

He was a 20th century history buff, a voracious reader of mystery novels, a crossword afficionado, a sought-after set back card partner, and a beautiful letter writer having sent his daughter impeccably handwritten correspondence each and every day while she studied abroad.

In addition to his wife Rosemarie, Dick is survived by his children Richard J. Preneta (Shay), Michael F. Preneta (Sandra), Susan M. Preneta, and David A. Preneta (Megan); his grandchildren, Alex, Olivia, Kevin, Isabella, Matthew, Nicholas, and Zen; his sister, Patricia Hilliard (Robert); his sisters-in-law, Annette Cella and Theresa Porto; his brother-in-law, Andrew F. DeVito; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sisters Doris McTeague, Phyllis Preneta and Lorraine Reilly; his brothers-in-law, Richard J. Cella and John J. Porto, Jr.; and his sister-in-law Gloria A. Brook.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, July 30, 2022 at 11 a.m. at Church of the Resurrection, 115 Pond Hill Road, Wallingford, CT. The family will receive relatives and friends in the church vestibule before the Mass from 10 to 11 a.m. Interment with military honors will follow in St. John Cemetery in Wallingford.

Gifts in Dick’s memory may be sent to: Church of the Resurrection Building Fund, 115 Pond Hill Road, Wallingford, CT 06492. Arrangements are under the direction of The Wallingford Funeral Home.

For more information and to leave online condolences, visit Wallingford Funeral Home here.