On March 17th, 2023, Arthur Franklin Rossomando (Sparky), formerly of Cheshire and Killingworth CT, passed away while at Arden House in Hamden CT. He was born in New Haven April 3, 1944 and was the son of Arthur and Carmella Rossomando. His middle name derives from the little town of Franklin Indiana where his parents (Arthur & Carmella) were married during WW II while stationed at Camp Atterbury. He leaves behind his three children, Arthur Oakes (wife-Morgen), Wade (wife-Kim and granddaughter Brooke in Killingworth along with Trevor and Peyton Dixon), and daughter Cara, as well as his brother Fred Rossomando (wife[1]Josephine and their children Anthony, Carmella, and Felicia) of Hamden. Also former wife Lisa Rossomando of Florida and cousins Val D’Ambrosio of Cleveland Ohio and Carol Charbonneau in Hamden CT. Art grew up in West Haven and attended Washington Avenue School through 8th grade. He then went to Notre Dame High School and graduated in 1962. In April 1964 the family moved to Hamden. From there, Art enrolled in The University of New Haven and received an Associates Degree. He finished his junior and senior years at SCSU with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education in 1967. He immediately headed to Florida and taught in the Carol City Schools for several years. He returned to CT and was hired as a successful science teacher in the North Branford School system for over 30 years. While in North Branford, Arthur received his Master’s Degree from SCSU. He loved the outdoors. Art was a terrific athlete in hockey, baseball, and basketball during his formative years. He loved the outdoors, particularly the ocean, fishing, and boating. In his spare time and especially his retirement years, he enjoyed spending hours in his workshop. Art used his creative skills to build and re-purpose furniture, with an eye for turning found “junk” into treasure. An avid antique collector, he was well known in the CT auction circuit and throughout the Shoreline for running the Westbrook flea market. Art and wife Lisa also owned several antique shops in the Shoreline area over the years. Art had this wonderful gift of giving and helping others in need. Numerous times he would go above and beyond to comfort and give support to others.
The visiting hours will be on Saturday morning, April 1st from 10:00 to 11:00 at The Havens Family, North Haven Funeral Home, 36 Washington Avenue. A service will service will be conducted in the funeral home at 11:00. Interment will be private and at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial contribution may be made to Alzheimer’s Association, 200 Executive Boulevard, Suite 4B, Southington, CT 06489 (alz.org).
So very sorry for your loss. Losing a patent is very hard.
Art was my next door neighbor on Horton Ave in Cheshire. I remember him building the old Ford pickup from scratch. He’d pay me a quarter to sort millions of screws and bolts. I remember asking if I could rake up his leaves. He told me I could, when the last leaf fell off that tree. Well, by that time, the leaves were knee high. In the summer he never wore a shirt. When my dad got transferred to Oklahoma he let us kids stay with him in Killingworth. I greatly appreciate the patience and generosity he shared with me and my family. He has never been forgotten even after the 45+ years since I raked those leaves. Rest in peace Mr Rossomando you will truely be missed.
I am going to miss you Sparky and I don’t care what anyone thinks about my calling you that. Since I was a little girl, my memories of you and Freddy were always good. But you were the cousin who was always there. My mom loved you and you were the reason she met Paul and he came into our lives. You never left her or him, always being in their lives. When I moved back to CT, and moved in with my parents, I got to have that time with them and with you. Although evident that all of you were suffering with some form of Dementia, iwa sao grateful to have had that time. I am so sorry this has to be the way it ended for you, and for my mom and Paul. And I am so sorry your kids and their kids are losing their father and grandfather. But I hope you find peace wherever you are. And I know you are with Paul and the two of you are driving all of the other souls in the ever after crazy. My heart is breaking but is also comforted knowing that you are no longer suffering.
When Mr. Rossomondo lived on Spring Street in Cheshire, our family lived behind him on Horton Avenue. We discovered when we moved in that the music teacher I had at the school I previously attended in Wallingford was Art’s brother Fred! I babysat Arthur Oakes and was told that he was named “Oaks” because that was Art’s favorite wood. In fact, I remember a beautiful oak bureau that Art and Lisa had in their home and it made perfect sense to me that Art would name his child something strong and handsome like that.