John (Giovanni) Frese

On Wednesday, August 28th, 2019, John (Giovanni) Frese passed away surrounded by his family and their love, after an abrupt battle with cancer. He was 82 years old. John was born on May 22, 1937 to immigrant parents Ermenegildo and Giuseppa Frese. They came to America through Ellis Island, in New York, and established their roots. They then moved to Astoria where John would have the quintessential city-boy life style, playing stick ball till the streetlights came on. John’s first job was working for the local butcher, delivering meat to his neighbors and fellow client families. John attended school in Astoria, and met the love of his life, Antonia (“Toni”) Bianco, at a church dance when he was a sophomore in college. They were married September 7th 1959 and have been with each other these past sixty years. Together, they started their family in New York, but John received employment at Pratt and Whitney as a mechanical engineer, and eventually moved the family to Connecticut. John and Toni brought a legacy of children into the world: Gina (Kurt) Paternostro, John Frese Jr., Christina (Christopher) Jagel , Jill (Jay) Clarke, Diana (Joel) Marchese, and welcomed Bonnie (Phil) Cabaud in 1984. John also leaves behind nineteen beloved grandchildren, and three beloved great-grandchildren. This legacy was by far, John and Toni’s greatest accomplishment. John was uniquely proud of every child, grandchild, and great-grandchild. John was a humble man, who was generous, selfless, and of course- devoted! He was a member of Our Lady of Sorrows Church, Estuary Council, Goodspeed Opera House, and loved music, Disney and traveling. John will be sorely missed. A visitation will be held on Sunday, September 1 from 2PM until 5PM at the Robinson, Wright & Weymer Funeral Home, 34 Main Street, in Centerbrook. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday September 2, at 11AM at Our Lady of Sorrows Church, 14 Prospect Street in Essex. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in John’s memory to either: The Estuary Council, 220 Main St, Old Saybrook, CT 06475, or to a charity of the individual’s choice. To share a memory or leave a condolence please visit: www.rwwfh.com