Frank Buonome of East Haven died peacefully on Sunday, Feb. 23. Born, May 30, 1913, to the late Raffaele and Marianna LoStreeto Buonome, Frank was predeceased by his wife, Angelina “Honey” DiRienzo Buonome, his siblings Joseph, Ralph (Mary), Victor, Vincent and Anthony (Philomena) Buonome, and Elizabeth (William) Carbone, as well as a beloved nephew, Joseph Buonome. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Mariann and Christopher Rollins; his grandchildren Bryce and Rachael Rollins and Mheegan Rollins; and great-granddaughter Emilia Harper Rollins, all of Guilford; friend Carol Rinker of Branford; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Buonome worked as an engine lathe operator for the Standard Machine Gun Co. in Hamden before serving in World War II with the 11th Combat Cargo Squadron in the Asiatic-Pacific Theatre, earning the rank of staff sergeant. He served in India, Burma, China, and Central Burma before being honorably discharged Dec. 29, 1945. After the war, he was a machine operator at Whitney Blake Co., Pratt & Whitney Co., MicroTech, and Talon Zippers. A tool designer and model maker, he founded Buono Industries in East Haven in 1961. He also worked on the first satellite for NASA. In his spare time, he was a tournament craps player, and was flown to Las Vegas and Atlantic City, New Jersey.

The family would like to thank the aides and staff at The Village at Mariner’s Point and VITAS, especially Frank’s “buddy,” Kofi “Lando” Acheampong, who took care of Buonome for more than a year.

Services were held at East Haven Memorial Funeral Home. A Mass took place at St. Vincent DePaul Church. Burial was with Full Military Honors at All Saints Cemetery in North Haven. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to VITAS Community Connection c/o VITAS Innovative Hospice Care, 199 Park Road Ext., Suite 102, Middlebury, Conn. 06762. Please visit Frank’s memorial page and sign his guest book at easthavenmemorial.com.