Obituary of Thomas I. Nerkowski

In Branford,Oct.22,2012,Thomas Ignacy Nerkowski,93,of Alps Rd.,Branford.Husband of the late Jennie Wachala Nerkowski and Mary Hillinski Nerkowski. Father of Thomas F. Nerkowski of East Haven and the late Patricia Nerkowski Sheehan and Kenneth Nerkowski. Step father of Chris Hillinski and wife Sue of Wallingford, Ted Hillinski of West Haven and Roberta Hillinski of North Haven. Grandfather of Frank.M. Nerkowski and wife Robin of Clinton,Jill M. Nerkowski of Middletown,Thomas F. Nerkowski and wife Jeanie of Middletown,Kim Reilly and husband Peter of North Haven and Karen McInnis and husband Donald of North Haven.Step grandfather of Jennifer Thomas and husband Brandon,Stephanie Hillinski and Amanda Hillinski. Also seven great grandchildren. Brother of Stanley Nerkowski of Putnam, Frank Nerkowski of Milford and the late Joseph,John and Anthony Nerkowski. Born Sept. 22,1919 in New Haven a son of the late Ignatius and Anna Korocz Nerkowski, he was a graduate of Commercial High School, class of 1939 and joined the US Naval Reserve ,18th Division in 1940. He was called to active duty in May of 1941 and was at Pearl Harbor during the Dec. 7,1941 attack by the Japanese. He served with the Navy for over five years. Thomas was a union carpenter and master boat builder,working at Dutch Wharf in Branford for over thirty years and was also co-owner of Wyman Boat Yard in New Haven. He was member and past president of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Assoc.,Nutmeg Chapter, and had presided at the dedication of the Pearl Harbor Memorial Bridge in 1979. Also a life member and past commander of American Legion Post #89 in East Haven where he was post historian for thirty years, was a member of the Bingo commitee and was a a past president of the Sons of the American Legion. He was a past Commander and life member of VFW Post # 2090, a member of Forty and Eight Voiture Local # 328, a member of the Hagaman Memorial Library WWII discusion group and had been an usher at St. Vincent de Paul Church. Thomas served as Grand Marshal for the East Haven Memorial Day Parade in 1993 and 2004. Funeral from the Clancy Funeral Home,43 Kirkham Ave.,East Haven, Friday morning at 9:00. Mass of Christian Burial in St. Therese Church,Middletown Ave.,North Haven at 9:30. Burial with military honors will follow in All Saints Cemetery. Friends may call Thursday from 5-8pm. Memorial contributions may be made to CT Hospice,100 Double Beach Rd., Branford,CT 06405.