Joseph D. Franchina, 83; Broadcaster, Former Stamford Board of Representatives Member

Joseph D. Franchina, of Stamford, passed away on Jan. 28, 2014 at Stamford Hospital from cardiac arrest. He was 83.

He was born in Stamford on Dec. 9, 1930 to the late Margaret and Joseph J. Franchina.

Mr. Franchina was raised in Stamford, graduating Stamford High School in 1948 and earning a degree in Broadcasting from Champlain College in 1952. He was also a veteran serving in the Naval Reserves during that time. He enjoyed a long and colorful career working in television and radio as a DJ, newscaster, sportscaster and morning show personality during the 1950s through the early 1970s. 

In later years, Mr. Franchina was self-employed in sales management, telemarketing, and sales consulting roles spending the last 25 years of his career working on new member recruitment for Independent Jewelers Organization before retiring in 2012. 

He was active in the community where he served on the Stamford Board of Representatives and Republican Town Committee in the 1980s. In his later years, Mr. Franchina became an active member of the Stamford Baptist Church serving on the Building and Maintenance committee and a member of the Church Choir. He was devoted to his family and most enjoyed spending time with his wife and family whom he loved dearly.

Mr. Franchina is survived by his wife of 54 years Clara (Utterberg) Franchina; sons Michael and his wife Antonietta and John and his wife Elizabeth; his brother Phillip Franchina and his wife Donna, and sisters, Patricia Long and Rose Marie Raiti as well as grandchildren, Michael, John, Ann and Alexandra Franchina.  He is also survived by several nieces and nephews. He is also survived by children from a previous marriage Joseph Franchina, Margaret Sarantos, Diane Giamba, and Michele Pavisic in addition to 12 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. 

Besides his parents, Joseph was predeceased by his sister Mary Grace Sabato.

Family and friends may call at the Lacerenza Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 8 Schuyler Ave., Stamford, from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 3. A memorial  service will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 4 at the Stamford Baptist Church, 605 High Ridge Rd., Stamford. 

Memorial donations may be made in his memory to the COPD Foundation, 3300 Ponce de Leon Blvd, Miami, FL, 33134.