Obituary for August J. D'Alessandro
Dr. August J. D’Alessandro, age 82, died peacefully at his home of 50 years in Newtown, CT in the presence of his loving wife, Danuta.
“Auggie” as he was known to family and friends, was born August 30, 1939, in Lackawanna, NY, to August and Ida (Mann) D’Alessandro. He graduated from Canisius High School, Buffalo, in 1957. He earned his pharmacy degree from the University of Buffalo in 1961 and married Patricia Hughes in 1964. He earned his medical degree the following year, also from the University of Buffalo, and was an affiliated postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Psychiatry at Yale University.
He worked as a board-certified psychiatrist at Fairfield Hills Hospital in Newtown from 1966 until its closure in 1992, except 1970-71 when Capt. D’Alessandro proudly served as a psychiatrist to the U.S. Air Force at Mather AFB in Sacramento County, Calif. He was among the first doctors to work at the Stamford methadone program.
After the closure of Fairfield Hills, “Dr. D” was medical director and a long-time staff member at the Midwestern Connecticut Council of Alcoholism (MCCA). He was also on staff for facilities including Connecticut Counseling Center, Ability Beyond, Wassaic State School, and the Harlem Valley and Connecticut Valley hospitals. He specialized in mental health and addiction treatment and wrote several articles on those topics for professional publications including the Journal of the American Medical Association. He was a member of the American College of Forensic Examiners and provided probate evaluations for several hospitals with a focus on mental health and substance abuse. He retired at 78 due to complications from diabetes.
A private person, Auggie had many interests. He was a member of the Newtown Lions Club and the International Club of Newtown. He enjoyed music, especially jazz. As a young boy, he played the clarinet -- but never quite as well as his favorite, Benny Goodman. He enjoyed listening to Ella Fitzgerald, Buddy Rich, and, of course, Frank Sinatra. Auggie had an ear for learning languages as well as music and was always game to try out his German or Italian on native speakers. He also had an encyclopedic knowledge of history, world events, old radio shows -- especially Bob and Ray and Jack Benny -- as well as baseball. In addition, Auggie rarely missed a New York Times crossword puzzle.
Most of all, Auggie was a family man who loved to travel, appreciated life, and exemplified kindness, generosity, and patience. He loved to listen, but above all, he had a quiet but keen sense of humor. He was loved by those who knew him well and will be missed greatly.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his first wife, Patricia. He is survived by their two children, Jennifer (Peter) Bosavage, of Ridgefield, and Geoffrey (Kathryn) D’Alessandro of Thomaston, and his four grandchildren, Nicholas, Claire, Jessica, and Colette, as well as his wife Danuta D’Alessandro.
Friends may Saturday April 9 after 10:00am, prior to an 11:00am Mass of Christian Burial in St. Rose of Lima Church. Interment will follow in at St. Rose Cemetery. A gathering of family and friends will follow to celebrate Auggie’s life.
In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that donations be made to the St. Rose School Scholarship Fund for the Faith and Leadership award in memory of Dr. August D’Alessandro. Please make checks payable to St. Rose School. Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street, Newtown is serving the family.
“Auggie” as he was known to family and friends, was born August 30, 1939, in Lackawanna, NY, to August and Ida (Mann) D’Alessandro. He graduated from Canisius High School, Buffalo, in 1957. He earned his pharmacy degree from the University of Buffalo in 1961 and married Patricia Hughes in 1964. He earned his medical degree the following year, also from the University of Buffalo, and was an affiliated postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Psychiatry at Yale University.
He worked as a board-certified psychiatrist at Fairfield Hills Hospital in Newtown from 1966 until its closure in 1992, except 1970-71 when Capt. D’Alessandro proudly served as a psychiatrist to the U.S. Air Force at Mather AFB in Sacramento County, Calif. He was among the first doctors to work at the Stamford methadone program.
After the closure of Fairfield Hills, “Dr. D” was medical director and a long-time staff member at the Midwestern Connecticut Council of Alcoholism (MCCA). He was also on staff for facilities including Connecticut Counseling Center, Ability Beyond, Wassaic State School, and the Harlem Valley and Connecticut Valley hospitals. He specialized in mental health and addiction treatment and wrote several articles on those topics for professional publications including the Journal of the American Medical Association. He was a member of the American College of Forensic Examiners and provided probate evaluations for several hospitals with a focus on mental health and substance abuse. He retired at 78 due to complications from diabetes.
A private person, Auggie had many interests. He was a member of the Newtown Lions Club and the International Club of Newtown. He enjoyed music, especially jazz. As a young boy, he played the clarinet -- but never quite as well as his favorite, Benny Goodman. He enjoyed listening to Ella Fitzgerald, Buddy Rich, and, of course, Frank Sinatra. Auggie had an ear for learning languages as well as music and was always game to try out his German or Italian on native speakers. He also had an encyclopedic knowledge of history, world events, old radio shows -- especially Bob and Ray and Jack Benny -- as well as baseball. In addition, Auggie rarely missed a New York Times crossword puzzle.
Most of all, Auggie was a family man who loved to travel, appreciated life, and exemplified kindness, generosity, and patience. He loved to listen, but above all, he had a quiet but keen sense of humor. He was loved by those who knew him well and will be missed greatly.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his first wife, Patricia. He is survived by their two children, Jennifer (Peter) Bosavage, of Ridgefield, and Geoffrey (Kathryn) D’Alessandro of Thomaston, and his four grandchildren, Nicholas, Claire, Jessica, and Colette, as well as his wife Danuta D’Alessandro.
Friends may Saturday April 9 after 10:00am, prior to an 11:00am Mass of Christian Burial in St. Rose of Lima Church. Interment will follow in at St. Rose Cemetery. A gathering of family and friends will follow to celebrate Auggie’s life.
In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that donations be made to the St. Rose School Scholarship Fund for the Faith and Leadership award in memory of Dr. August D’Alessandro. Please make checks payable to St. Rose School. Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street, Newtown is serving the family.