Colonel Edmund Thomas Negrelli (Ret US Army) died peacefully on Aug. 16. Born on Feb. 6, 1923, to Angelo and Lillian (Cutone) Negrelli, he was a lifelong resident of Deep River.
Edmund attended schools in Deep River and in his senior year won a competitive scholarship to the Middletown Business College. Pearl Harbor intervened in his second year when he enlisted in the regular Army and received his initial training in the Horse Cavalry at Fort Riley, Kansas. He was selected for Officer Training School and received his commission at Camp Hood, Texas in May of 1943. In 1944 he went to the European Theater of Operations and was reassigned to the infantry in the 66th Black Panther Division.
After the war he was assigned to Austria where he served until 1947 before returning to the United States and separating from active service. He was employed at Uarco in Deep River for more than 40 years. In 1947 Edmund joined Company K, 169th Infantry, 43rd Division of the Connecticut National Guard. In 1950, as captain of Company K, he brought them on active duty to Munich, Germany before returning to Connecticut in the summer of 1952.
In October 1953 he attended the advance course at the Infantry School, Ft. Benning, Georgia, graduating in 1956, which qualified him as a paratrooper. In 1968 he was an honor graduate of the US Army Command & General Staff College, Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. He commanded the 1st Battalion, 169th Infantry and was chief of staff in the Connecticut State Alternate Headquarters. In November 1972 he became commander of the 43rd INF Brigade until his retirement in December 1975 after almost 34 years of distinguished service.
In the military he was a 1950 charter member of the Association of the US Army. He was also a member of The Reserve Officers Association as well the National Guard Association. Awards included the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Combat Infantry Badge, campaign ribbons for ETO and Korean Conflict. In April 2002 he was inducted into the US Army Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame at Ft. Benning, Georgia.
Edmund is survived by his children Linda Negrelli of Deep River, Geraldine (Bruce) Ballan of Rexford, New York, and Mark Negrelli of Old Lyme; and his grandchildren Jefferson Chapman, Jamison Chapman, Joline Weissgarber, Amy (Anthony) Davis, Gregory Tubeck, Stacy (Stefan) Kuhn, Elizabeth (Daniel) Lewis, and Thomas (Danielle) Negrelli. He also leaves ten great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister Aurelia Knox of Old Saybrook and several nieces and nephews. His brother Bernard, daughter Kathleen Meyer, and granddaughter Kristin Meyer predeceased him.
A graveside service with Military Honors took place on Aug. 25 at Fountain Hill Cemetery in Deep River. Memorial contributions in his name may be made to The Town of Deep River Veterans Memorial Green Fund, 174 Main St., Deep River, CT 06417. To share a memory of Edmund or send a condolence to his family, please visit www.rwwfh.com. Arrangements are in the care of Robinson, Wright & Weymer Funeral Home in Centerbrook.
