Daniel Spallone, a former state Appellate Court judge has died. He was 85.
Spallone, of Deep River, died Monday at Middlesex Hospital. He had been in declining health since January, said his son state Rep. James Spallone of Essex.
Judge Spallone worked in the judicial system for nearly 40 years. He was first nominated to what was then the Circuit Court by Gov. John Dempsey in 1960. He was elevated to the Court of Common Pleas by Gov. Thomas J. Meskill, and in 1978 was appointed to the Superior Court bench by Gov. Ella T. Grasso.
In 1984, he was appointed to the Appellate Court by Gov. William A. O’Neill and served on the appeals bench until he retired in 1991. During part of that time, he was the senior associate judge on the appeals court.
He continued to work as a trial judge referee until he became ill.
A Waterbury native, Spallone was a student at the University of Connecticut when World War II broke out. He interrupted his college career and joined the American Field Service ambulance corps. He returned to UConn after the war received a psychology degree. He also earned his law degree from UConn.
He practiced private law in Hartford and later in Old Saybrook. He served as the Deep River town attorney and was a member of several town boards and commissions, including the school board.
“He was an example of public service and he was a great father,” James Spallone said.
Spallone is survived by his wife, former state Rep. Jeanne Field Spallone, a daughter, two sons, two grandchildren and a brother.
A public memorial service will be held Sept. 7 at the Deep River Congregational Church. Burial is private.
