John Aloysius East, III, 66, of Branford and East Haven, passed away April 26 at the Connecticut Hospice in Branford. He retired from the State of Connecticut, Division of Criminal Justice, as a Senior Assistant State’s Attorney. He was born March 21, 1948, in New Haven to the late John, Jr., and Gladys (Veno) East.

John is survived by his devoted wife Rosellen (Scali) East of Branford; siblings Ellyn Cordes (widow of John Cordes), Joan Proto (Joseph), MaryJane East, and Frances Pisaturo (widow of Joseph Pisaturo), all of East Haven; and siblings Elizabeth Golia (Gerald) of Massachusetts and Matthew East (Laura) of North Carolina. John is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and godchildren.

John graduated from Notre Dame (West Haven) High School and Southern Connecticut State University. He received a Juris Doctor from the University of Bridgeport. John’s keen intellect, love of history, and knowledge of trivia led to a winning appearance on TV’s Jeopardy. More significantly, he was paterfamilias to his siblings, especially his beloved sister MaryJane. He was cherished by colleagues, friends, and family for his extreme generosity and caring.

Family will receive friends from 4 to 7 p.m. on April 29 at the Clancy Funeral Home, 43 Kirkham Ave., East Haven. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on April 30 at 9:30 a.m. in St. Joseph Catholic Church, 129 Edwards St., New Haven, with interment to follow at All Saints Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Connecticut Hospice, 100 Double Beach Rd., Branford CT 06405, in memory of John A. East, III.