Francis J. Bigham

Francis J. Bigham died September 15 at Danbury Hospital. He was 78 years old and known as “Bing.” He was the husband of Dora (Costello) Bigham and lived on Apple Blossom Lane in Danbury.

Mr Bigham was born in Danbury January 29, 1922, son of the late Frank and Bertha (Marcinek) Bigham. He graduated from Bethel High School, Class of 1940, and entered the US Army to serve in World War II. He fought in the Rhineland, Central Europe, and the Mid-Eastern and African campaigns, serving in the 69th Infantry Division. He received the Bronze Star, Combat Infantry Badge, and the European Theater medal. He was discharged as staff sergeant after serving from October 1942 to December 1945.

Mr Bigham was an electrician for the Ducci Electric Company of Torrington for more than 40 years; he retired in 1982. He was the project and general foreman for such construction jobs as the Danbury High School, the Danbury Hospital, UniRoyal, Perkin Elmer, and Union Carbide. He was a 50-year member of the I.B.E.W. Local Union No. 525 and served as past president and financial secretary. The 525 later became the Local No 488 in Bridgeport. He also taught night school at Henry Abbott Tech during the 1960s. He was a member of St Gregory Church.

Besides his wife of 57 years, he is survived by three sons, David J. and his wife, Barbara, Brian and his wife, Peggy, all of Danbury, and Keith E. and his wife, Patricia, of Newtown; two daughters, Patricia A. Zadrozny and her husband, Ben, of Bristol and Michelle A. Tortora and her husband, Gary, of Branford; 12 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; a brother, Kenneth Bigham of Newtown; three sisters, Isabel Utter of Danbury, Anne Lovell of Brookfield and Bertha Abbotts of Wells, Vt.; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his granddaughter, Deborah Bigham.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on September 18 at St Gregory the Great Church, Great Plain Road, Danbury, at 10 am. Burial will be in St Peter Cemetery.

Contributions in his memory may be made to the Hematology and Oncology Department, Danbury Hospital, Danbury, CT 06810 c/o Dr John Pezzimenti.

The Newtown Bee     September 22, 2000