Andrew P. Palladino(1943 - 2017)

A man of courage and integrity left us on Saturday, October 28, 2017. He made so many remarkable and substantive contributions in his 74 years on this Earth. Called "Drew" by family and "Andy" by friends, he was born to Arlene Cullen Palladino and Andrew Francis Palladino on May 26, 1943, their first born. He graduated from Manchester High School in 1961 and received his Bachelor's degree from UConn in 1970 followed by a Master's in English Science from Wesleyan University in 1975. Drew had an abundance of talent, dignity, intellect, and kindness. He painted in oils. He wrote volumes of poetry and was published on all seven continents. He wrote short stories and novelettes. He was an expert marksman. He could learn any language to which he set his mind, including Spanish, German, Russian, and Japanese. He taught English and Spanish while he and his wife lived in Japan for two years, loving every minute of being there. Drew taught English with great patience to any level of student. He taught in colleges in his beloved Vermont until age 70 and then continued to offer his skills as an online tutor. He gave his last session just three days before he passed out of his body, making a graceful exit in his sleep. The cancer that took him from us did not crush his spirit. At one point, while in terrible medical straits, he offered a toast, "To Life!" He was loved by so many people from all walks of life, and they each had a welcoming place in his very big heart. He leaves his beloved wife, Lee Chamberlain Palladino; children Andrew Palladino; Eileen Palladino Luna and her husband Ulises Luna; Amber Palladino and Shane Jarrell, who are expecting Drew's first grandchild, Andrew Palladino; and Dawn Palladino and John-Paul Arenas. He also leaves his sister, Noreen Palladino Cullen and her husband, David Gonci; nephew Paul Petro and grandniece Julia Petro; good friend Emma Palladino; and precious Cullen, Fleming, and Palladino cousins. The family and friends will have a memorial at St. Mary's Cemetery in East Hartford on Burnside Avenue on Sunday, November 5, 2017 at 1 p.m. (Please pay attention to the "Fall back" time change.) All are welcome.