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03/29/2012 12:00 AM

Paul J. Reutenauer, Jr., 77, The Villages, Florida, formerly of Hamden


Paul J. Reutenauer, Jr., 77, of The Villages, Florida, formerly of Carmel St., Hamden, died March 25 at The Villages Hospice House in Florida. He was the husband of Concetta (Angelini) Reutenauer. Paul was born in Hamden on Jan. 29, 1935, son of the late Ret. Hamden Police Captain Paul J. Reutenauer, Sr. and Ethel Prior Reutenauer. Paul had been a Hamden firefighter before his retirement in 1993.

Paul began his firefighting career as a volunteer at the age of 16, and then enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he served his country from 1953 to 1957 aboard the USS William M. Wood (DD-715). When he returned home, he continued his career as a paid firefighter for 36 years.

Paul had a love for woodworking and carpentry and loved spending time with his family, especially vacations on Cape Cod. He was a long time member of the Sleeping Giant golfing community, was a former member of the Hamden Elks and the Knights of Columbus, Carmel Council, and he was a longtime parishioner of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Hamden. He also was a lifelong, faithful, and loyal member of Red Sox Nation, and he loved his New York Giants.

Paul enjoyed spending his last years in The Villages, where he loved life with Connie, with the warm weather, golfing, and getting together with the many great friends they made. While there, he was a member of the Connecticut Club and the Irish-American Club.

Besides his wife, he is survived by other devoted family members, who will cherish his memory, including his children, Paul J. Reutenauer III and his wife Tina of East Lyme, Kathleen “Kate” Jensen and her husband John of North Haven, Maureen “Molly” McKenna and her husband Larry of North Haven, Daniel “Danny” Reutenauer of Hamden, Sheila DeChello and her husband Michael of Wallingford, William R. “Bill” Angelini, Jr. and his wife Joan of Westbrook, Thomas “Thom” Angelini of New Haven, and Paul Angelini and his wife Amy of North Branford. He was a proud grandfather to Paul and Kevin Reutenauer, Danny and Megan Sutfin, Casey and J.J. Jensen, Michael and Patrick McKenna, Brendan and Brian Murphy, Matthew and Melissa DeChello, Christopher and Sara Angelini, Julia Angelini, and Lulu Angelini. He is also survived by two brothers, Robert Reutenauer and his wife Kris of The Villages, Florida, and Richard Reutenauer and his wife Jan of Wallingford, both retired from the Hamden Police Department, and many loving nieces and nephews. Paul was predeceased by his first wife of 42 years, Mary Lou Vining Reutenauer.

His funeral procession will leave the North Haven Funeral Home, 36 Washington Ave., North Haven, on Friday, March 30, at 10:30 a.m.  A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church at 11 a.m., followed by burial with full military honors in St. Mary Cemetery, Hamden. Visiting hours will be Thursday, March 29, from 4 to 8 p.m.  Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to the American Kidney Fund, 6110 Executive Blvd., Suite 1010, Rockville, MD 20852, or to the American Heart Association, 5 Brookside Dr., Wallingford, CT 06492. www.northhavenfuneral.com.