Louis John Novinski

Published in the Hartford Courant on 6/25/2008.

NOVINSKI, Louis John Louis John Novinski, 78, of Ellenton, FL formerly of Moodus, died Saturday, (June 21, 2008) at Middlesex Hospital. He was born in Moodus on May 14, 1930, the son of the late Edward and Thoefila (Dykas) Novinski.

Lou attended Nathan Hale High School and graduated in 1949. He was drafted in May 1952, attending basic training in Ft. Knox, KY for 16 weeks, then eight weeks leadership school in Ft. Knox 3rd Armored Division. He left for Germany in November 1952 and served in Mainz, Germany from 1952 to 1954. Lou played 80 baseball games for the 2nd Armored Division and 80 basketball games, traveling to many of the cities in Germany while playing other Army teams.

He was discharged in Ft. Dix, New Jersey in February 1954. He took two weeks vacation "furlough" to Paris, France between baseball and basketball season in order to stay on temporary duty. When he was discharged, he went to work for Connecticut Light and Power, retiring in 1987. He went to live in Florida, spending winters there and summers in Connecticut.

Lou was elected to the Nathan Hale High School Hall of Fame. He played three years with the Boston Red Sox and was always a Red Sox fan.

He is survived by two sisters, Lottie Spada of Cromwell, and Celia Delehanty and her husband Bill of Hadlyme; two brothers, Benedict Novinski of Chester, and Henry Novinski and his wife Kay of Moodus; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by two brothers, Edward and Albin Novinski; and two sisters, Eugena Nowakowski and Hedwig Stula.

The Funeral Liturgy will be held Friday at 11 a.m. at St. John's Church in Cromwell. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. Friends may call at Biega Funeral Home, 3 Silver St., Middletown, Friday from 9:30-10:30 a.m., prior to the funeral services.

Memorial contributions may be made to Middlesex Hospital, c/o Dept. of Philanthropy, 28 Crescent St., Middletown, CT 06457.