The Pacelle Family

My life is pretty much like a cross between "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" and "The Soprano's."

Fenton and I enjoy an evening out.
Because we live apart and only see each other on weekends, it is
often necessary for us to wear name tags

I am the oldest of four children. My dad, Richard Sr. was a grammar school and later a high school teacher. He taught Physical Education and Driver's Education. He was a football coach for many years. He was an assistant coach at the University of Bridgeport during the best season in school history. He was the head coach of the freshman team which compiled a 7-2 record over two seasons. He then went on to coach Milford High School. He had five straight winning seasons for a school that had not had a winning season in the dozen years before his arrival. His best season, 1972, saw his team finish 8th in the state. I do not know if it is his fault or not, but neither Milford High School or the University of Bridgeport still exist today. In his retirement, he is playing tennis and golf, and watching all sorts of spectator sports. Click here for more about the Pacelle family tree.

My mom, Patricia Kledaras Pacelle, is the third child of seven. She was your traditional stay at home Mom in the 50s and 60s and later went to work in the family construction testing business and now works in the New Haven school system. Every morning she made us a full breakfast before school: eggs or French Toast (which I never saw in Paris, by the way), or pancakes. Later, medical science revealed that eggs were not so good for you and led to high cholesterol. For years, my mother would apologize for feeding us many eggs. But it turns out now, they may not be so bad for you. Mother knew best. She puts up with my father, a full-time job and dotes over her grandchildren. Click here for more about the Kledaras family tree.

My oldest sister Kim is a Principal in New Haven. She is a tough disciplinarian. She was a magna cum lucky graduate of Central Connecticut State University. Her husband, Dennis, who played hoops at CCSU, is an employee of the U.S. Postal Service. They have have a daughter, Danika, a recent graduate of Drew University, who has relocated to the Boston area. Here is Kim, she does not look so tough here, does she? My cousin, Marcy Guiliotis and Sara Angeletti, my cousin Jay's wife (to see more about the extended family, click), don't seem to be enjoying the joke quite as much as Kim does.

Here is Kim, now the principal of Nathan Hale, and Danika, a recent graduate of Drew University

Here is Kim and Dennis at the post Thanksgiving party. Don't they look happy?

Fenton looks admiringly (I think it is admiringly) at Danika, her first niece and why not?

My youngest sister Wendy owns and directs Shagbark Day Care in Orange, Connecticut. Wendy appears to be quiet, but she has a great sense of humor. Wendy and her husband Neil, who is retired off the job, as they used to say on "NYPD Blue," have two children, Robb and Corey. Neil fishes, plays golf, and softball and is a Yankee fan. Here is Wendy and Neil:

Robb plays all sorts of sports when his arm is not in a cast and Corey, a devotee of "American Idol" is a gifted and talented dancer. Here is a picture of Corey and me (it is not the best picture of her, but when she sees it, maybe she will send me a better one).

This is a picture of Robb, arm in a cast. They start young in my family. What is the deal with the Mets hat? See, what happens when I am away from home.

My brother Wayne, an animal rights' activist, is the President of the Humane Society of the United States. He has ascended to be the number 1 man, the President and CEO of the largest non-profit agency in the world (HSUS). It is a well-deserved promotion if I do say so. He spends a great deal of time lobbying Congress and state legislatures and pushing favorable ballot initiatives. He is frequently on television. He is articulate, smart, has a great sense of humor. He looks like a cross between JFK, Jr. and Pete Sampras, which is why the latter is my mother's favorite tennis player. Wayne is, of course, my mother's favorite. And with good reason. Click here for more on the HSUS and the battle to protect animals. Wayne and I were born during the two years that Willie Mays won the MVP trophy in the National League (so trivia experts can figure out when that was), prompting my father to threaten to kill Mays if he ever seemed poised to have another great season.

Wayne in Action

My best friend, like a brother to me, is Ed Mongillo. Ed lives in Wallingford and teaches Special Education. We call him Special Ed. When I play baskeball with him, I call him Physical Ed. He was also known as the Charmer and Chong (guess who was Cheech). Ed and I became fast friends in high school during our Sophomore year at Notre Dame High School. We are both huge Yankee fans and have intersecting musical tastes. We roomed together for four years at UConn. The Odd Couple has nothing on us. Ed is meticulous and neat and some people claim that I am a little bit sloppy and messy.

Each year, we make a trip or two together to Yankee Stadium when I am in town. That is one of the highlights of my trips to New Haven.

Ed has a beautiful daughter, Lindsay Rose Mongillo.

To check out what is going on with Ed and Lindsay, here is a link to his website: www.packers66.com

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