Chiaradio, Roland T., 85, of Palm Harbor, FL (formerly of Westerly, RI and Farmington, CT) left this earth on Memorial Day, May 25, 2020, fitting not only due to his service in the US Air Force during the Korean war, but also as a day to forever be remembered and memorialized by those who loved him.
Roland is survived by his wife of 62 years, Anne Bailey Chiaradio, to whom he was extraordinarily devoted. Together, they worked to achieve their dreams of education, career, home and family. After graduating from URI, Roland joined Aetna as a trainee in the Bond Department in Boston, MA. This career would take the family to numerous locations throughout CT, before finally landing in Hartford. The family made their home in Farmington, and their children and grandchildren were all raised in this area. Roland and Anne enjoyed many adventures in those 62 years and traveled the world together, making a lifetime’s worth of memories.
Throughout his life, Roland endured significant medical challenges which he fought with grace and without complaint. He was a medical miracle, successfully battling severe rheumatoid arthritis (resulting in eight total hip replacements – the first at age 27), kidney cancer that left him with one kidney, quadruple bypass surgery, and ultimately the extremely rare Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) that he fought so valiantly until the end of his life.
In addition to his wife Anne, Roland leaves his two children and their spouses (whom he loved as his own), all of Palm Harbor, FL: John M. Chiaradio (Sheli), to whom he gifted his love of the ocean, and Deena C. Strom (Weston Day, Jr), to whom he conveyed his love of flowers and gardening. His children have many memories growing up on the water in RI, fishing, clamming & boating, harvesting vegetables from his amazing gardens and selling them door to door in their wagon, and transplanting his beloved lilies and iris in each home they lived in over the years.
Roland also leaves behind his grandchildren and step-grandchildren, who were so blessed to have remained close to him well into adulthood: Holly Rae Strom, 27 of Vernon, CT, first born grandchild who captured his heart and was the apple of his eye; Eric Michael Strom, 24, of Plainville, CT, who was always his Papa’s hoppy little buddy with the big, raspy voice; John Michael Chiaradio, Jr., 27, of Bristol, CT, who was so devoted to and loved by his Papa, and also inherited his love of the ocean; Jenna Rae Chiaradio, 25, currently of Hawaii, the beautiful free spirit her grandfather adored; Melissa Day, 28, of Manchester, CT, who Papa lovingly referred to as Sissy and who could always make him smile; and Weston Day III, 27, of Palm Harbor, FL, who spent many an evening sharing a drink with Papa, and could always be counted on to help with anything he needed. Papa was so proud of each of you, and boy, did he love you all so much.
Roland is also survived by two sisters and their families: Janet Antoch, of Westerly, RI, and Elaine Vitro (Frank) of Denton Texas, niece MaryBeth Brown of RI, and nephew Michael Brown (Flynn Michael) of CA, and long-time family friend Jay Coyle, of FL, all of whom he missed and loved dearly. He was pre-deceased by his parents, Redencia and Thomas Chiaradio, and his in-laws, Raymond & Pearl Bailey, along with his much-loved step-father-in-law, Arthur LoPriore. He forever mourned the passing of his beloved sister-in-law Linda Bailey Brown, and the many canine loves of his life.
Lastly, Roland leaves his amazing army of care givers, who have become our family. The Goddard women – Britteny, Freda and Arica. Elena Breitling. Sarah Stjohn. Marika Farley. Lawrence Brown. You all treated our dad with such loving care and respect. You kept him laughing, and allowed him to maintain dignity in his final, difficult years. It was because of you all that Dad was able to remain in his home until his very last breath was taken. You prayed at his bedside and saw him on to his next journey. For all of this, and so much more, we are eternally grateful.
This tribute to Roland’s life is in lieu of services. Donations in Roland’s name may be made to the VA, without which we would never have been able to maintain such an outstanding level of care.