Kenneth Mango Obituary

Kenneth W. Mango, Esq. of Branford, Connecticut, passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of July 8, 2025, just a few months following his 86th birthday. Born and raised in Meriden, Ken was the youngest of three children born to the late Nicholas and Concetta (Puglia) Mango. Ken graduated from Meriden High School in 1957 and earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Connecticut in 1962 and his law degree with honors from the University of Connecticut School of Law in 1965. He was a proud member of Phi Sigma Kappa and to his last days maintained all of its secrets.

In 1967, shortly after graduating from law school, Ken was appointed as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for the State of Connecticut's Circuit Courts, a professional responsibility that he undertook with the greatest reverence, and one that gave him many colorful stories to tell throughout his life. In 1969, Ken joined Robert Luby, Sr. and Gary Olson in their private law practice in Meriden, helping to grow that firm into what later became Luby, Olson, Mango & Gaffney. Throughout his long career, Ken always had a deep love for the law and for service to his clients. He was a lifelong learner, developing broad expertise from banking to commercial real estate to elder law, always serving his clients with legal skill, compassion and great care. Ken received many honors and accolades across an esteemed legal career spanning more than 50 years, with many clients becoming friends along the way.

Ken made his greatest and most profound contributions to the Meriden community and was frequently found at the heart of some of the City's greatest initiatives. From teaching and coaching at the local Laurel College to championing the Meriden YMCA and the Meriden Boys Club as its President and benefactor, Ken was a founder and director of the Meriden Economic Development Corporation, and served as a Director of Meriden's Chamber of Commerce and the President's Council of the Veterans' Memorial Medical Center. He took great pride in his more than 35 years of dedicated service to the Cuno Foundation and its Distribution Committee, and he was recently recognized for his service to the community with the naming of a room in his honor at Gaylord Hospital.

Ken was best known among friends and family for his rabid love of UConn basketball and football. A faithful booster, Ken regularly journeyed to Storrs and Hartford, as well as to many Final Four tournaments to wave the banner for his beloved Huskies. His season ticket seats at Rentschler and in Gampel were coveted by family, friends and clients, with whom he shared generously. Ken most proudly served the UConn Foundation for many years in reflection of his commitment to giving back to his alma mater from which he received so much.

Ken's greatest joy came from his family. A proud grandparent of two, Ken rarely missed a field hockey, lacrosse or ice hockey game, wearing all the gear for Berkshire, Canterbury, SMU and Clemson, cheering loudly both home and away, and celebrating every win and definitely suffering every loss. Sundays were at first reserved for his cherished men's golf groups, whether in Meriden or at his home of 40 years in Pine Orchard, though he later took great pleasure in sharing the frustrations of the game with his son-in-law and his grandson as often as possible. He loved his home at the beach, and contributed in every way to his neighborhood Board and his beach association, just as he had always done professionally.

Ken is survived by his wife of more than 64 years Sandra (Franz), their daughter Kim Thompson and her husband Michael, and his two beloved grandchildren, Michael and Caroline, as well as by his sister, Laura (Mango) Crawford, his sister-in-law, his nephew, nieces and many cousins. In the last weeks of his life, his grandchildren were able to visit often and gave him great joy.

The family is most grateful for the loving care Ken received from many home healthcare aides, including Connie, Carolyn and Jackie, who were with them at home for several years, as well as for the wonderful nurses and home healthcare aides at Wilton Meadows who eased him through the last weeks. While services will remain private to the family, Ken would have delighted in any contribution made in his memory to the University of Connecticut Foundation - Men's or Women's Basketball, 2390 Alumni Drive, Unit 3206, Storrs, CT 06269.