Cheshire- Mario De Pecol, 92, formerly of Thomaston, died peacefully at home on March 10, after a brief illness. Born in Manchester, VT on June 4, 1921, he was the son of August and Teresa (Franeschin) De Pecol. He is survived by his daughters Lisa De Pecol and Elaine LeClair of Cheshire and Marlene De Pecol of West Hartford, and his grandchildren Lane and Zack Smith, who knew him as Papa. Mario was a big brother to his sister Emily D. Taillon of Bristol. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Marion I. De Pecol of Thomaston, as well as a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was predeceased by his brothers, Ben and Bruno.

After graduation from High School in 1938, Mario attended Torrington Trade School and went on to graduate and become a certified tool and die maker, apprenticing at Seth Thomas Clock Company.  He was a proud veteran, having served with his brother Ben in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946 aboard the USS Hollis, the flagship of an all under-water demolition known today as the Navy Seals. Upon his return, Mario formed the De Pecol Tool and Die Company, specializing in the design and construction of progressive and compound blanking dies.  He loved his hometown and showed it in many ways. He played baseball for Harry Lynch’s American Legion team from 1938-1953, he became a presiding trial judge of the Thomaston court, and he initiated and assembled the Thomas Reeves Memorial Wall located in Thomaston Town Hall, receiving the Paul Harris Fellow Award. He was a member of the Italian-American Club, the Thomaston Historical Society, the Knights of Columbus, the Society of Tool Engineers, the American Legion, the Destroyer Escort Sailors Association, the Stag Club and the Rotary Club of Thomaston. Mario also enjoyed reminiscing about the fun he, his brothers and friends had as young men forming a club they named the Skunk Hill Rangers.

Mario retired in 1983, spending winters in Hollywood, Florida. He enjoyed attending the USS Hollis reunions held in various cities throughout the US. He loved traveling to Conegliano in the Veneto region of Northern Italy, where his parents were born, and was happy to be able to speak Italian with the De Pecol cousins there. Besides riding his custom-made Italian racing bike until the age of 90, he enjoyed hiking and playing tennis up through his late 80’s. Mario was also an enthusiastic opera lover and enjoyed the music of the big bands.

Arrangements: Friends may call at the Lyons Funeral Home 46 High St., Thomaston, on Saturday morning, March 15, from 9:30 A.M. until 10:30 A.M. A mass of Christian burial will follow at 11:00 A.M. at St. Thomas Church in Thomaston. Burial will be in the spring in St. Thomas Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Mario’s name to the Landmark Community Theater at the Thomaston Opera House, PO Box 158, Thomaston, CT 06787.

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