Obituary of Dr. David J. DeNuccio
Dr. David DeNuccio, 90, of Glastonbury (also formerly of Farmington and Newington), Professor Emeritus of Biological Sciences at Central Connecticut State University (CCSU), passed away on March 15, 2026, after a heroic battle with cancer.
David was born on May 29, 1935, to Genoveffa (Ferraro) and Pasquale DeNuccio in Lawrence, Massachusetts. Being the fourth child and losing his mother when he was 2 and his father when he was 14, David became independent at a young age, graduating from Lawrence High School, Merrimack College (BS), Boston College (MS) and the University of Tennessee (Ph.D. in Medical Physiology). He met Anne Lancaster, a nurse, while both working at Danvers State Hospital. They married in 1960 and had their two children, Jennifer and Daniel. They raised their family in Newington but later moved to Farmington, CT, living there for 30 years. They spent their last few years in Glastonbury, CT. David worked at CCSU as a professor in the Biology Department from the mid 1960’s until 1997 when he retired.
David’s career accomplishments were receiving the Distinguished Service Award in 1988 from CCSU and in helping to create and develop the academic curriculum for the nationally recognized Nurse Anesthesia graduate program, the first regional nurse anesthesia program in New England, still in existence today. Yet, through all of this, he was most dedicated to his family, ever the teacher and tutor, staying up during late hours to help prepare a child or grandchild for an exam or edit a paper that was due.
David is predeceased by his parents; his wife, Anne, of 61 years; his brothers Paul and Raymond DeNuccio; his sisters-in-law, Emma DeNuccio, Rita Lancaster, Jackie Lancaster, Jane Carrigg; and his brother-in-law, Jim Lancaster. He is survived by his sister, Geri Jabara, his sister-in-law, Jeanette DeNuccio, and his brother-in-law, Joe Dzekevich. He is also survived by his two children, their spouses, 7 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren – his daughter, Jennifer and her husband, Serge Arel, their children Audrey (Matt) Allegretti along with their children; Lauren (Michael) Casto along with their children; Joe (Sarah) Arel along with their children; Justin Arel; David’s son, Daniel DeNuccio and his wife, Maria, their children David (Emily) DeNuccio along with their children; Thomas DeNuccio and his partner, Emily; Patrick DeNuccio and his partner, Talia. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews from the DeNuccio and Lancaster families and many cousins.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at 10:00 am at SS. Isidore and Maria Parish in St. Paul Church, 2577 Main Street, Glastonbury. Entombment will be in Holy Cross Cemetery. Relatives and friends are invited to call with David’s family on Friday, March 20, 2026, from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm and Saturday morning from 8:30 am to 9:30 am at Mulryan Funeral Home, 725 Hebron Avenue, Glastonbury. In lieu of flowers, donations in his name may be made to one of the following: St. Paul Church, 2577 Main St in Glastonbury, CT 06033; or Dr. David DeNuccio Graduate Scholarship Fund at Central CT State University, 1615 Stanley Street, New Britain, CT 06050. For online condolences, please visit www.mulryanfh.com.