The Hon. Alfred Vincent "Tim" Covello

The Honorable Alfred Vincent “Tim” Covello died on February 18, 2025 with his wife, Carol, by his side. His 92 years were marked by the extraordinary number of lives he touched as a friend, family member, pilot, judge, teacher, student, musician, and in countless other roles. He is survived by his wife, Carol Covello of Naples, Florida, his son Timothy Covello and his wife Diane of West Hartford, Connecticut, his daughter Nancy Murray and her husband Hugh, also of West Hartford, and his grandchildren Allyson Covello and her husband, Imran Cronk, Helena Murray, Matthew Covello, and George Murray. He is also survived by his several nieces, nephews and his brother-in-law and sister-in-law Orest and Patricia Bliss of Naples, Florida. Judge Covello was born and raised in Hartford, Connecticut. His father, Frank Covello, was a lawyer and a judge. His mother, Bernadine Neville Covello, was an expert horticulturalist. Tim and his sister, Carol, grew up on Oxford Street. Judge Covello raised his own family in West Hartford, then spent 17 years living in a home he built on the Metacomet Ridge in Farmington. He returned to Hartford for several years and ultimately relocated to Naples, Florida where he spent his last years. Judge Covello attended the Loomis School, graduating in 1950 and remaining deeply connected to the school for the rest of his life. He spent 7 years as President of the school’s Alumni Association and served on its Board of Trustees for more than a decade. Both of his children and two of his four grandchildren were also educated at Loomis. After Loomis, Judge Covello attended Harvard College, graduating in 1954. As with Loomis, Harvard remained a large part of his life for much longer than the four formative years he was enrolled there. He was a proud drummer in the Harvard University Band. Once again, his children followed his path, both attending Harvard and both playing in the Band. Judge Covello was a member of the pit orchestra of the Hasty Pudding Theatricals, and 60 years later his granddaughter, Allyson, was also a member. He was a dedicated fan of and season ticket holder for the Harvard Football team, attending games with the same core group of friends for over 4 decades. Following Harvard, Judge Covello enlisted in the Army. He served his country for two years active duty at Fort Dix and two more as a Reservist. Judge Covello also took a flying lesson shortly after graduating from college. He loved flying so much he never stopped. He was an airline transport pilot, qualified in single engine, multi-engine, and sea planes, and he shared his passion with others as a certified flight instructor. Over the decades he taught scores of people to fly. He logged over 4800 hours of flight time, and many more hours at the airfield with fellow flight enthusiasts. Once again, he passed this love onto his children, both of whom are also pilots and who spent countless hours flying with their dad. For many years, Judge Covello was also a Director of the New England Air Museum. In 1957 he met Suzanne Rafferty, and they were married on September 6, 1958. He and Suzanne had three years of wedded bliss, and then their son, Timothy, was born in 1961. Nancy followed in 1965. Judge Covello loved being a husband and father, and he and Suzanne embraced their family with all their hearts. What with climbing mountains, roofing houses, projects galore, Indian Guides, parties and vacations with friends who became extended family, the decades of raising children were very rich for Tim and Suzanne. Judge Covello received his legal training at the University of Connecticut School of Law. After graduation in 1960, Judge Covello engaged in the general practice of law in Hartford County for 14 years, first with Bieluch, Barry & Covello and then with Gross, Hyde & Williams. During that period he also served as Corporation Counsel for the Town of West Hartford. In 1974, Governor Tom Meskill (also a private pilot) gave Attorney Covello the opportunity to become Judge Covello. If someone wonders in what court Judge Covello served, the answer is “all of them.” He was first a judge on the old Connecticut Circuit Court and then the Court of Common Pleas, followed by a long period as a Superior Court Judge. During his service as a Superior Court Judge, Judge Covello developed a reputation for unfailing graciousness to all involved in the judicial system; he addressed everyone with the utmost respect as “sir” or “madam” regardless of station. He then served in the Appellate Session of the Superior Court, and in 1987 joined the Connecticut Supreme Court. In 1992, he was appointed as a United States District Judge for the District of Connecticut. He was the Chief Judge of that Court from 1998 until 2003 when he took senior status. He continued to serve as a Senior Judge until his full retirement in 2022. As a Supreme Court Justice and federal District Court Judge, Judge Covello helped mold the careers of young lawyers who served as his law clerks and judicial interns. While teaching them to write, he also instilled in all of them a profound respect for the law and an understanding of the privilege of being a lawyer. And he also taught them how to have fun while attaining the highest levels of professional success. Judge Covello often said that the most rewarding thing he did as a federal judge was to preside over citizenship proceedings for immigrants becoming US citizens. He made a point of welcoming each new American, and even performed two such ceremonies at the Loomis Chaffee School to instill in the students there the great honor of American citizenship. His highest compliment, which he bestowed often, was to call someone a “Great American.” Judge Covello spent four decades as a trustee of the Mortensen Foundation, providing funding for projects big and small that have made the Hartford area a more vibrant place. In addition to his home in the Hartford area, Judge Covello had deep ties with Biddeford, Maine and Naples, Florida. The Covello Family spent time in both places from the 1970’s until the present. Judge Covello was a proud member of the bass section of the Saint Peter Claver Choir from the 1980’s until he moved to Florida in 2022. As with most of his activities, Tim was an anchor of that group (despite his self-deprecation of his own singing voice). He formed and maintained lifelong friendships, singing with his fellow choir members through worship, weddings, funerals, and other celebrations. In 1997, Tim’s wife Suzanne died unexpectedly from pneumonia. Her passing profoundly disrupted Judge Covello’s world. Fortunately, he met and fell in love with Carol Santry. Carol and Tim married in 2006, and she opened him up to new and different experiences for the second act of his adult life. Extensive travel, opera, skiing, fine art, new friends and old, she made sure that Judge Covello did not stagnate but continued to grow and experience new things. When “Young Tim” and Nancy started families of their own, Judge Covello embraced his new role as Father-In-Law to Diane and Hugh, and then as Papa to Allyson, Helena, Matt, and George. He took a keen interest in them and in all their activities. The annual reading of The Night Before Christmas on Christmas Eve to his children and then to his grandchildren continued from 1962 almost through the present. In 2022, Judge Covello and Carol relocated full time to Naples, Florida. He spent his last three years at Moorings Park, receiving love and care as his health and faculties declined. He continued to sing, he served as President of the Resident’s Council, and he was a joy to everyone he encountered there. Judge Covello packed a lot into his 92 years. He leaves behind a legacy of professional accomplishment, family, and friendship that inspires everyone who knew him. A funeral will be held at the Church of Saint Peter Claver in West Hartford, Connecticut on April 2, 2025 at 11:00 am, with calling hours the day before on April 1, 2025 from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm and from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm at the Saint Peter Claver Parish Hall. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation in Judge Covello’s memory to either the Elizabeth Park Conservancy (elizabethparkct.org) or the New England Air Museum (neam.org).