Obituary of Roger J. Kalafut

Roger J. Kalafut, Manchester, CT

Saturday, December 12, 2020 marks the day of profound sadness and loss for the family and friends of Roger J. Kalafut (73) of Manchester, CT. He passed away peacefully after battling illness for the past three years.  Roger was born in Hartford, CT on March 30, 1947, the oldest child of Helena (Przbycien) and Andrew Joseph Kalafut.  He grew up in Rocky Hill, where he graduated in the class of 1965. Post high school, he immediately went to work at Pratt and Whitney in East Hartford where he held several positions over the years retiring as a Facilities Engineer after 44 years of service in 2008.  Throughout Roger’s career, he displayed great work ethic, loyalty, and dedication with nearly perfect attendance every year.  The first day of work he missed was due to a heart attack he had while at work in 2000. In that moment his life was saved by the quick action of Pete Lund and Jack Biuso, administering CPR and the new defibrillator the medical service unit bought and was just trained on weeks earlier.  This act assisted Roger’s heart to start beating again, defying all odds, he lived 20 more years.  In 1970, Roger married his wife Maureen (Burns) and welcomed their only daughter Allyson five years later.  Roger and Maureen had a home in Manchester where many family and friends would gather.  Their door always remained open and all were welcome. No one felt that more than their son in law Brian whom they loved as their own.  Roger and Maureen were the primary caretakers of their grandchildren, Brennen, Connor, and Mollie.  After a brief and sudden illness Maureen passed away in January 2013.  In the following years Roger spent many days still caring for his grandchildren where he was their biggest supporter.  You could always find Dziadzi in a theatre watching a performance of Brennen’s, on the sidelines of the baseball field or in the hockey rink watching Connor or in a dance hall watching Mollie.  They were truly his purpose.  Roger was very lonely after Maureen’s passing, Roger met Nancy (Quaranta) later in 2013, they  connected on Facebook,  Nancy was from his hometown of Rocky Hill yet was living in Florida.  Roger eventually traveled to Florida where they met in person.  In 2014, Nancy moved to Connecticut and they married in 2015.  Together Nancy and Roger traveled New England and celebrated his seventieth birthday in Walt Disney World. Nancy will always remember Roger for being a kind, sweet, and easy-going man. Roger was a simple man who enjoyed simple things.  Among family and friends, Roger was also known as the Grill Master, he enjoyed grilling in the back yard.  He loved music, photography, and gardening.  He was an avid Hartford Whalers fan and got so excited to hear Brass Bonanza and always yelled “Score!” with such enthusiasm, while watching games.  He was a fan of the New York Yankees.  As Roger became less mobile, he really enjoyed watching the television.  His favorite show was Blue Bloods and it helped him pass the time. For 25 years he enjoyed volunteering with his two best friends Fred and Jeff as part of the backstage crew for United Technologies Symphony on Ice an annual toy drive raising Toys for Tots at the Hartford Civic Center.

In addition to his wife, daughter, son in law, and grandchildren, he leaves his brother Joey Kalafut and sister Linda Kalafut. His God-daughter Corrine Lebouthillier, his cousins Joni Sowa, Cathi Footit, Scott Sowa, John Cieplik and Steven Cieplik. He will be sorely missed by Maureen’s family, his brother and sister in-laws Patti Burns , Sue Burns, Tom and Nancy Smith. His nieces, nephews and great-nephews Kerry, Rue, and Eli Smith-Landau, David Smith, Emely, Stephen, and Oliver Larson, Sean, Julie, and Thomas Burns. His God-son David Belbruno and his siblings Paul Belbruno and Elizabeth Weber, along with his lifetime friends  Elaine and Fred Donahue, Linda and Bill St. Laurent, Judy and Richard Johns, Pete and Fran Lund, Pat and Dennis Smith, Cheryl Kardys, Jeff Kardys, and Louise Herdlein.  He also leaves to mourn his passing Nancy’s family his Brother in law Tim and Anna Quaranta of FL, Connie Quaranta of CT, Elizabeth Doe & many extended family members in Vermont, Tracy and Michael Murray of CA, Elon and DeShawn Johnson of FL, Louis Hawkins of CT along with many special friends he knew with Nancy; Elisa and Manny, Lidia and Manny, Bonnie and Rich and many dear friends whom he loved. We know he is in a better place joining family who has passed before him. In heaven he will be reconnected with his parents and many Kalafut and Przbycien family members, Maureen, Maureen’s sister Gail Burns-Smith and brother Tom Burns, along with his in laws Tom and June Burns.

The family will be planning a Celebration of Life BBQ when it is safer to gather in larger crowds.

In Lieu of flowers, please consider donating a toy at a local toy drive or food to your local food bank.  2020 has been an unprecedented year, many people are in need. 

A graveside service will be livestreamed at 1 p.m. on Friday, December 18^th.  Please visit www.facebook.com/TierneyFuneralHome/ to participate.   

The John F. Tierney Funeral Home, Manchester has care of the arrangements.  For online condolences please visit www.tierneyfuneralhome.com.