Donald L. Rio, K1IDM SK Donald L. Rio, 75 of Plainville, passed away Sunday, Feb. 18, 2018, at the Hospital of Central Connecticut in New Britain, surrounded by his loving family. He was the husband of Marjorie (Autunno) Rio, with whom he shared 52 years of marriage. Donald was born Aug. 24, 1942, in New Britain, a son of the late Dominic and Josephine (Mortelliti) Rio, and was a longtime Plainville resident. He was a 1960 graduate of Saint Thomas Aquinas High School. Upon graduation, Donald joined the United States Air Force, serving in Newburgh, N.Y., and later in Turkey. After being honorably discharged from the Air Force in 1963, he began his 35-year career at Pratt & Whitney, beginning as a crib attendant, working his way to network designer. Donald later worked as a consultant at Pratt and Whitney with CSC and then with his own consulting company, Data Design Consultants. He was a ham radio operator since he was 15 years old with his call letters being K1IDM and he volunteered at ARRL in Newington, where he enjoyed giving tours and talking about ham radio operation. Donald enjoyed marching bands and was a trumpeter in the Shriners Band. Donald was proud of the backyard pond he built named “Rio’s Oasis” and took great care of the fish he placed in it. Donald was an excellent tennis player in his younger days, enjoyed bowling and going to eat at Saint’s and Oasis. He enjoyed war movies and old westerns, but his favorite movie was “It’s A Wonderful Life,” which became a family Christmas tradition. Donald was a communicant of Our Lady of Mercy Church. Besides his loving wife, Marjorie, Donald leaves his son, Douglas Rio and Michelle of Southington; his daughter, Cheryl “Shosh” Trovato and her husband Sebastian of Southington; his grandchildren, Anthony, Matthew and Summer; his brother, Jerry Rio of Florida; and his sisters-in-law, Anny O’Steen and Judy Bosco and her husband Jim. Donald was predeceased by his twin daughters, Marjorie and Mary, and his brother, Brother James Rio, CSC. A Mass of Christian Burial in celebration of Donald’s life will be held on Thursday at 10 a.m. directly at Our Lady of Mercy Church, 94 Broad st. in Plainville. Burial will follow in Saint Mary Cemetery in New Britain. Family and friends may gather at the Bailey Funeral Home, 48 Broad St. in Plainville, on Wednesday from 4 until 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Cancer Center of Central Connecticut, 201 North Mountain Road, Plainville, CT 06062 or to Our Lady of Mercy Church, 19 South Canal St., Plainville, CT 06062. For additional information or to leave words of sympathy, please visit Donald’s tribute page at www.BAILEY-FUNERALHOME.com http://www.newbritainherald.com/NBH-Obituaries/321716/donald-l-rio
