John Peter Listro

The late John Peter Listro (May 26th 1931 – December 16th 2020) was a beloved Husband, Father, Grandfather, Brother, Friend, and Teacher.

John and his twin brother Sebastian were born in New Britain Connecticiut, and along with their seven siblings - Late Frank Liistro, Late Ernie Liistro, Late Joe Liistro, Late Paul Liistro, Late Michael Liistro, Late Mary Liistro (Pepi), and Late Santina Liistro (Marinelli) - grew up as a close family in New Britain where their parents Paul and Jennie (Mermina) Liistro established the family home after they emigrated to the United States from the village of Noto in southern Sicily, Italy.  Growing up, John and his siblings worked many jobs to help the family and when he had time he loved to play baseball.  John and his friends were part of the “Hustlers” youth baseball team in New Britain.  In 2004, John helped organize a reunion of the original Hustlers after which the group met faithfully each month for many years for fellowship and to relive old times.

John enlisted in the Air Force and served in Japan during the Korean War, and later became an active member of his local chapter of The Veterans of Foreign Wars.  After the war, John married Charlotte (Smith, deceased) in St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Hartford Connecticut on June 28th 1958 and together they raised their three beloved daughters Donna, Linda, and Sue.

In 1974, John received his Ph.D. in Accounting from the University of Connecticut and began a long and distinguished career as a university professor (University of Connecticut, Corning Community College, SUNY Binghamton, Nichols College, University of New Haven, Eastern Connecticut State University), mentor, and author.  When asked about his doctoral studies, John was always quick to recount how much his family helped him as he completed his dissertation research for his doctorate. He quickly rose through the academic ranks and became a tenured Full Professor while on the faculty at Eastern Connecticut State University.  He taught for 45 years, continuing his teaching and service as an Emeritus faculty member at ECSU until 2019.  John and his close friends and colleagues William T. Sisco and Ralph E. Webb developed and founded the graduate program in accounting at ECSU and established the Founders of Accounting Scholarship - an endowment that has provided scholarships for ECSU graduate students in need since 2005.

Deeply committed and active in his faith, John was a member of the Our Lady of La Salette Catholic Church in Brooklyn Connecticut for 29 years where he and Charlotte raised their family, and later as a member of St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Berlin Connecticut.  Over many years John faithfully served as Lector and Parish Council member.

John was active in the Connecticut chapter of the American Kennel Club where he served as an officer, show organizer, and competition judge for many years.  Along with his family, he also raised several dogs that went on to win Companion Dog Excellence (CDX) and Obedience Trial Champion (OTCH) awards in open competitions.

John cherished his time with his immediate and his extended family.  He and his brother Sebastian organized the Listro family Christmas party and the family summer cookout every year without fail and they loved that these events brought together all the Listro families.  Later in life his extended family came to include his dear friend the late Rosalie Divalentino, and he cherished the time he spent with her and with her daughters Dianna Corkum and Lisa Dornfried.

John was a kind, giving, humble, and wise man and he was much loved by his family and many friends. John always said how much his daughters and their children were blessings in his life and in his later years he travelled extensively to spend time with them and watch them grow up.  He will be lovingly missed by the entire family including his grandchildren Jenna, Donald, Justin, Zachery, Kaitlin, and William.

John will be interred alongside his wife Charlotte in Brooklyn Connecticut.  The date for his interment has not been finalized.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in John’s name to the Founders of Accounting Scholarship at Eastern State Connecticut University  (The ECSU Foundation Inc, 83 Windham Street, Willimantic, CT 06226, or by phone 860-465-0003).

https://www.easternct.edu/scholarships/individual-scholarships/founders-of-accounting-scholarship.html

https://www.easternct.edu/give/give-to-eastern.html

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