Carl Trombley

Carl L. Trombley, 79, of Middlebury, CT died on June 7th, 2016 at his home, surrounded by his loving family.

Born in North Adams, MA on March 31, 1937, he was the son of Rolland and Mary (LaBombard) Trombley. His family moved to Williamstown, MA, living many years on Simonds Road. He graduated from Williamstown High School in 1955 where he was captain of both the football and baseball teams in his senior year.
He enlisted in the US Navy in 1955 where he received several commendations including flying aerial ice support when the USS Nautilus made its historic voyage under the polar ice. Stationed in Alaska he also did an ice harbor freeze up study in Barrow before being assigned to the USS Norton Sound where he was honorably discharged in 1959 and was awarded the good conduct medal.
After his military service, he attended Southern Connecticut State College where he received his BS degree. He began his educational career as a teacher in Middlebury, CT. He became a middle school guidance counselor at Hillside School in Naugatuck, CT and then was appointed as the principal of Salem School, also in Naugatuck. Following many happy years at Salem School he became a central office administrator in Naugatuck doing both grant writing and curriculum instruction. He also had stints, when needed, to replace principals in Maple Hill School and Naugatuck High School. He received advanced degrees at the University of Hartford and served as an adjunct professor at Sacred Heart University. He received several local honors during his career. He retired from Naugatuck in 1996 after 33 years in the educational field
Following his retirement, he began a second career as an educational consultant working in the communities along the Naugatuck Valley. Teaming with his friend and associate, Thomas Jokubaitis, they wrote educational specifications for many school building projects in the state of Connecticut including the Waterbury Arts Magnet High School, North Haven High School, Oxford High School, Portland Middle/High School, Manchester High School, and Naugatuck High School.
Active in his community, he served as secretary and president of the Naugatuck Exchange Club, United Way division chairman, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Naugatuck Day Care, Chairman of the St. Mary’s Parish Council, Maple Hill School Building Committee, Hop Brook School Building Committee, City Hill Middle School Building Committee, and was a lector for many years at St. Mary’s church.
In his later years he enjoyed writing and was a published author of two books. In addition, he wrote a story of his life and six other books. The themes of his short stories were of honor and respect, those attributes he tried to model in his life. He enjoyed reading children’s books that he wrote, in classrooms in the area and mentored students in the Naugatuck schools. During his years in the educational profession, he also mentored many teachers and administrators leaving all with a message to love what you have chosen to do.
He truly enjoyed golf and was a long time member at the Watertown Golf Club where, according to him, his sense of humor far exceeded his golf talents.
His legacy, one that he passed on to those who he taught, mentored and loved, is to try to make a difference in the lives of others.
His family was the joy of his life and he leaves his loving and devoted wife, the former Ann Bernardiener, whom he married in June, 1964. For more than 50 years he and Ann enjoyed laughter and one other; they were each other’s best friends. He also leaves behind three daughters, Carla Trombley of Naugatuck, CT; Jennifer Clough, her husband David, and grandson Zachary of Newbury, MA; and Kristi Alcorace, her husband PJ, and grandchildren Jake and Amelia of Naugatuck, CT. He also leaves two brothers, James and Paul of AZ; his mother-in-law, Viola of NJ, his brother-in-law Ed and his wife Sandy of GA; his sister-in-law, Barbara of AR; and many nieces and nephews.

Many thanks to the Waterbury Hospital ICU staff, especially Aida and Ashleigh, for their extra special kindness and care.

It has been said that a person dies twice; once when they take their last breath and finally when the last person speaks their name. If this is true, it will be a long time until his final obituary is written.

Calling hours will be held on Sunday, June 12th from 3:00 to 6:00pm at the Buckmiller Thurston Mengacci Funeral Home, 82 Fairview Avenue, Naugatuck, CT. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, June 13th at 9:00am at St. Mary’s Church, 338 North Main Street, Naugatuck, CT, with military honors to follow.

In lieu of flowers, to honor Carl’s memory, memorial contributions can be made to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, 230 East Ohio Street, Suite 304, Chicago, IL 60611 or at www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org.