Obituary of Carnio Primus

Carnio Bruno Primus, son of Lodovico and Rosa (Pelligrini) Primus, 95, of Manchester, CT, Connecticut’s oldest and longest licensed professional engineer, died Friday March 2^nd. He is predeceased by his loving wife Clara M. (McWha) Primus who was known for her hospitality and open kitchen policy. He is survived by his four sons Bruno Jacob, John and his wife Diane, Christopher, Nathan and his wife Tammy and his daughter Susan Mary Primus; also his grandchildren Jason, Matthew, Laura, Wilson, Brandon, Austin and Connor. He will be missed by dozens of nieces and nephews in twenty states and three continents. Shortly after his birth in Fort Lee, NJ his family moved to “the farm” in Killingworth, CT where he was indoctrinated into the logic and teachings of a “swamp Yankee farmer”. The depression forced the family to move to Middletown, then to Waterbury where in 1939 he proudly graduated from Crosby Classical High School. In those Waterbury years Bruno and several brothers began a thriving business The Imperial Bakery which was lucrative until war time rationing discontinued activities. Bruno enlisted in the army and was stationed with the medical service in Hot Springs. Arkansas where he met his future bride Clara McWha. After the war he returned to Connecticut, studied engineering at UCONN in Storrs, moved into a Veterans Project home in Willimantic, began his family and made many lifelong acquaintances. He earned his Civil Engineering degree and then in 1950 he was able to move into their new home in Manchester. After a stint with the Connecticut State Highway Department he worked with the MDC until good fortune and keen business sense led him to join into an association with Dr. Clarence Welti at Engineering Services, Inc. where they provided surveying, engineering and test boring services all over New England and New York State in the 1960’s. Always with an eye toward business he worked on many sub divisions, built Salem Apartments in East Hartford along with Briarwood Heights and Farmstead Apartments in Southington which the family still owns today. He will be remembered by family in his beloved Italian Alpine region of Friuli, by friends in Colombia, South America and the isle of Jamaica as well as all his family, friends and business associates in the states. The family would like to sincerely thank Sharon, Carlene, Linda, Karen, Dr. Rebecca and Renee Jones for being such loyal and loving caretakers. A time of visitation will be held at the John F. Tierney Funeral Home 219 West Center St. Manchester, CT on Friday, March 9, 2018 from 4:00 – 7:00pm. A short service will be held at 10:30 at Tierney’s the next day March 10^th followed by burial at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Watertown, CT. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Arthritis Foundation – www.arthritis.org or the Fisher House- www.fisherhousect.org/d-o-n-a-t-e. For online condolences please visit tierneyfuneralhome.com.