Louis J Patierno, 87, of Westbrook, formerly of Cheshire, died on May 12.  He was the husband of Margaret (Peg) Straus Miller and the son of the late Josephine and Nicholas Patierno. Lou enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1942 and worked with Army Airwaves, the forerunner of radar in B-29 bombers.  He was honorably discharged in 1946.

Lou was retired from the Cheshire Post Office as assistant postmaster after serving the public for 29 years. He was also a member and past president of the Cheshire Exchange Club, where he had supervised the immunization of both Salk and Sabin vaccines, immunizing 92 percent of the town.  For his efforts, he was voted Outstanding Young Man of the Year by the Cheshire Junior Chamber of Commerce. 

Lou had been a Red Cross volunteer for 36 years in both blood services and emergency disaster relief.  As a disaster team worker, he assisted in floods, fires, earthquakes, hurricanes, and ice storms, including serving as Family Service coordinator for three months in New York City after September 11th.

Lou and Peg traveled the world, going to every continent and every time zone - all of Europe; South and Central America; parts of Africa and Asia; as well as teaching English to children in Indonesia.  He had been a friend of Bill W for 36 years and will be remembered for his tough love and “hang in there.”  Lou also volunteered at the local food pantries in Cheshire, Waterbury, and Westbrook, and helped organize the Walk with Haiti Committee at St. Mark’s Church in Westbrook.

Besides his wife, he is survived by his children, James Miller, Thomas Patierno, Mary Patierno, William Miller, Nicholas Patierno, and Louis Patierno, Jr.  He is also survived by 10 grandchildren.  He was predeceased by his siblings, William, Joseph, Thomas, Mary, Alice, Lena, and Ella, as well as his son, David Miller.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 21, at 11 a.m., at St Bridget’s Church, 175 Main St., Cheshire.  A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 18,  at 11 a.m., at St. Mark’s Church, Westbrook.  In lieu of flowers, please donate to the MPN Foundation or Walk with Haiti Committee.