Gilbert Joseph Levere

Gilbert Joseph Levere died peacefully at age 91 on Thursday, December 24, 2009. He is now with the love of his life and wife of 62 years Lucia Lucy Rose DiBella Levere who pre-deceased him by one month. Gilbert was born in Hartford, Connecticut on January 13, 1918, the son of the late Alphonse and Marie Belanger Levere. He is survived by his daughters Rosemary Levere of Summerfield, Florida and Carole Montano and her husband Michael of West Hartford, his sons Martin of Prescott, Arizona, Alan and his wife Linda of West Hartford, Philip and his wife Michelle of Tucson, Arizona, and Lawrence and his wife Suzanne of West Hartford, and his ten beloved and cherished grandchildren Danielle and David Chasse, Christopher and Justin Montano, Laura and Nicholas Levere, Savannah and Matthew Levere, and Julia and James Levere. He is also survived by his son-in-law John Chasse and his sister-in-law Carmela Levere and many loving nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. In addition to his beloved Lucy, he was pre-deceased by his brother Peter and his sister Jeanette Luko Mulready. Born and raised in Hartford's north end, Gilbert always cherished memories of riding trolley cars, especially the open-air types, to attend Ste. Anne's School on Park Street from which he graduated in 1931. He was also a 1935 graduate of the old Weaver High School on Ridgefield Street, and later obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Spanish and French from the University of Connecticut in 1948. Until his death he continued to be an avid UConn sports fan, especially UConn Women's Basketball. A month after Pearl Harbor, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps from which he was honorably discharged in 1946 after seeing service as a radio and radar technician in the Canal Zone, Hawaii and Guam. After participating in the battle of Okinawa, he was a member of the Marine Occupation Forces in Tsingtao, China until his discharge. After graduating from UConn, he was employed as Assistant to the Export Manager of the former Colt's Patent Firearms Company and later as the Assistant Export Manager at M. Swift & Sons, both of Hartford. Subsequent 30 years' service with the former United Aircraft Export Corporation and Pratt & Whitney's Foreign Sales Department entailed extensive foreign travel, especially throughout South America. After retirement from Pratt & Whitney in 1984, he continued to travel abroad for pleasure with his wife Lucy for several more years. He was also an instructor of Spanish, French and Italian at the Hartford Adult Evening School beginning in 1949 until his retirement in 1984. In addition, he assisted in organizing and was the first Cub Master of Boy Scout Cub Pack 212 of St. Peter's Church in Hartford. Among other activities, he authored articles published in various philatelic publications. As the family genealogist, he enjoyed delving into the history of his and Lucy's forebears in Canada and Italy respectively, and was a member of the French-Canadian Genealogical Society of Connecticut, Inc. He was also a member of the former Elks Lodge 2063 in East Hartford and the West Hartford and Elmwood Senior Centers. Gilbert loved his family, and his beloved grandchildren brought out the best in him. He had a special ability to appreciate and understand the uniqueness of each grandchild and to interact with each according to their own individual personalities.Gilbert's family would like to extend a special thank you to the incredible staff at Saint Mary Home in West Hartford who provided him with the utmost in unending love, care, support and encouragement. Funeral services will be Saturday, January 2, 2010 beginning with a visitation from 8:30-10:30 a.m. at the Molloy Funeral Home 906 Farmington Ave. West Hartford, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. in the Church of St. Thomas the Apostle 872 Farmington Ave. West Hartford. Burial will follow in Mt. St. Benedict Cemetery with full military honors. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Peter's Church, 160 Main Street, Hartford CT 06106, or Immaculate Conception Shelter, 560 Park Street, Hartford CT 06106.

Gilbert Joseph Levere

January 13, 1918 - December 24, 2009