Obituary of Daniel J. Donofrio

Resident of Trumbull Daniel J. Donofrio, age 94, of Trumbull, a retired school teacher for the City of Bridgeport Board of Education, died on Monday, December 28, 2009 at his residence. Born in Bridgeport on June 9, 1915, he was a son of the late Lorenzo and Antoinette Riccio Donofrio and a U. S. Navy Veteran of World War II. An avid athlete, Daniel graduated from Hall Elementary School and Warren Harding High School in 1930 where he was a member of the varsity football team, and elected captain in 1933. He attended Arnold College and went on to Ohio University in Athens, OH. He was on the Varsity Football team from 1935 to 1938 and was selected All Ohio Football Guard from 1936 to 1938. He was named Honorary Captain of the 1936 United Press and became captain in 1937 of the Ohio University Old Buckeye Team. In addition to his many accomplishments on the field, he was vice president of the Mens Union Center and president of Alpha Phi Delta Fraternity. In 1962, he was appointed Director of Adult Education, and in 1965 was installed as President of the Connecticut Adult Education of Public Schools, in 1971 chairman of the New England Conference for Adult Education and became chairman of Adult High School Program for the National Convention of California in 1973. He retired in 1980 after 39 years as a teacher, administrator, counselor and coach in the Bridgeport school system. In 1982, Mr. Donofrio earned a diploma as a paralegal from the University of Bridgeport Law School, in 1983 was appointed Agent for the senior citizens for the town of Trumbull, and was a member of the Trumbull Senior City Commission in 1983. He was elected to the Ohio University Hall of Fame for football in 1987, and inducted to the Bridgeport Old Timers Athletic Association in 1989. In addition to his beloved wife of 67 years, Elena Discepolo Donofrio, he was pre-deceased by a brother, John Donofrio and four sisters, Antoinette Attianese, Jennie Saviano, Carrie Lucia and Adeline Samerotti. Survivors include his devoted nieces, Joan Carol Mills, Laurie Macisco and her husband Albert, and Michaelanne Discepolo, sisters-in-law, Peggy Donofrio and Rita Discepolo, a brother-in-law Joseph Discepolo and several additional nieces and nephews, and great nieces and nephews. Funeral Information Friends are invited to meet directly in St. Stephen Church, 6948 Main St. , Trumbull, on Thursday, December 31, 2009 at 11:30 a.m. for a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment will follow in St. Michael Cemetery, Stratford. Friends may call on Wednesday from 4-8 p.m. in the Abriola Parkview Funeral Home, 419 White Plains Road, Trumbull.