ZANGRILLO, PETER P.
Peter Paul Zangrillo of Darien, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps and opened a Darien golf range, died Monday, May 26 [2008], at Norwalk Hospital. He was 86.
Born May 14, 1922, in Darien, he was the son of the late May and Patsy Zangrillo. He was the oldest of five children: brothers Steve and Robert Zangrillo and his sisters, Ceil Danna and the late Ann Sherwood.
Mr. Zangrillo served in the United States Marine Corps from 1942 to 1945. He was a member of the elite 4th Marine Raiders, for which he fought battles in Guadalcanal, Bougainville, Guam and Okinawa.
Mr. Zangrillo was involved with golf from a very early age. In his youth, he worked as a caddy at the Wee Burn Country Club in Darien. In 1949, he opened the Darien Golf Range, the first two-tiered driving range and miniature golf course of its kind.
The business closed in 1980 and its operations were moved up the street to the current location of the Darien Golf Center where he worked with his son, Dana, for the next 25 years. During his 50 years in the business, his family said, Mr. Zangrillo touched the lives of many — helping others as well as neighboring communities as a whole. Through these actions, he derived a great deal of pleasure, said his family.
He lived the later years of his life with son Dana and his family in New Canaan, and the final years of his life at Waveny Care Center.
Besides his son, Dana and his wife Connie, now of Redding, Mr. Zangrillo is survived by another son, Peter and his wife Haylie of Santa Fe, N.M.; three grandchildren, Emily, Ian and Drew of Redding; his brothers Steve of Darien and Robert of Silvermine; and sister Ceil Danna of Darien. He will be missed by many, the family said.
A memorial Mass will be held at 10 on Friday, May 30, at St. John R.C. Church, 1986 Post Road, Darien. Burial will follow at Spring Grove Cemetery, Darien.
Memorial contributions may be made on behalf of his three grandchildren to the Redding Boys and Girls Club Lacrosse Program, P.O. Box 333, Redding Ridge, CT 06876.