Thomas Reale, “The Mayor of Chickahominy”

thomas realeThomas F. Reale, Sr. died on April 13, 2016 in Castle Rock, CO. He was born on July 7, 1919 to Joseph and Carmella Reale in Greenwich.

Better known as “The Mayor of Chickahominy,” Thomas served in the US Army during WWII. He served as a cook in the Aleutian Islands in Alaska.

He worked for Western Union in Greenwich delivering telegrams. Thomas ran three apartment buildings on Lafayette Court in Greenwich for over 50 years.

He also worked as an auxiliary policeman for the Greenwich Police Department.

Thomas was a local crossing guard until the age of 95.

Thomas was a longtime parishioner of St. Roch Church and a longtime member of the Redmen’s Club.

Screen Shot 2016-04-15 at 2.57.06 PM

AAA Northeast Public Affairs Manager Fran Mayko, third, right, presented the Traffic Safety Hero Award to Tom Reale, center. From left is Sgt. John Slusarz, who holds the department’s Gold Award; Officer Ron Carosella, who presents AAA’s mature driving improvement program to area residents; Capt. Pam Gustovich; and Lieut. John Brown.

Thomas was predeceased by his wife Ann of 69 years in January 2012. He is survived by his children Thomas Jr. (Bonnie), Marie Volpe (Richard ‘Doc”), his sister Angelina Birdsell, his grandchildren Gary Cockerham Jr, Thomas Reale III, and David Reale, his great granddaughter Isabella Marie Cockerham, and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sister Mary Chiappetta.

Visitation will be on Thursday April 21, 2016 from 4:00pm to 8:00 pm at Castiglione Funeral Home, 544 Old Post Road #3, Greenwich, CT.

A Funeral Mass will be Friday at 10AM at St. Roch Church, 10 St. Roch Ave, Greenwich, CT. Interment will follow at St. Mary Cemetery, 399 North Street, Greenwich.

Donations can be made to St. Roch Church. To leave an online condolence please visit www.castiglionefh.com

See also: Thomas “Tommy” Reale, 97, Longtime Crossing Guard is Gone


Image

Email news tips to Greenwich Free Press editor [email protected]
Like us on Facebook

Twitter

Subscribe to the daily Greenwich Free Press newsletter.