Honorable Roland Damian Fasano

The Honorable Roland Damian Fasano (March 21, 1948 - May 3, 2021) passed away peacefully with his beloved wife of 51 years, Donna, by his side, at Yale New Haven Hospital.  The consummate jurist, intellectual, athlete and legal scholar, Roland led a life of joy and purpose, forming deep and abiding relationships with all who were fortunate enough to know him.  A devoted fan of football, he was waiting patiently for the NFL Draft when a lethal infection invaded his fragile body, sending him away from the TV at the very moment that Trevor Lawrence’s name was being called.  Throwing caution to the wind and devouring every kind of junk food that should have been avoided, he relished his pre-Draft meal of Popeye’s chicken nuggets, declaring them to be the “best chicken” he had ever eaten.  A graduate of The New Hampton School, Choate, The University of Pennsylvania and The New England School of Law, Roland excelled in every way: from academic honors such as cum laude and Dean’s List, to achieving the distinction of being the fastest speed back on both the junior and senior varsity football teams at Penn, Roland always stood out from the crowd. He began his legal career with his dad, Alphonse Fasano, in private practice.  Realizing that he preferred the action of the courtroom to the business side of the profession, he joined the State’s Attorney’s Office in New Haven and soon found his passion and his place as a member of “Arnie’s Army,” Arnold Markle’s Career Criminal Division,  prosecuting some of the most serious and complicated cases in the New Haven area.  Surrounded by inspectors, like-minded attorneys, and led into the fray by the illustrious Mr. Markle, Roland loved every moment of this work and this team.  In 1990, Roland became a member of the Connecticut Judiciary and served, as well as presided, in Bridgeport, New Britain, Hartford, New Haven and Waterbury Superior Courts.  In 2018, he was appointed to the position of JTR; despite the pandemic, he continued to travel to his beloved office in Waterbury finding his niche by taking on warrants and motions that would lighten the burden of his colleagues. Judge Fasano was one of the most well-known, experienced and respected jurists in the state; he was universally admired by the judiciary, defense bar, and prosecutors for his fairness, knowledge of the law and concern for justice.  Among the cases that Judge Fasano handled were State v. Robert Breton, State v. Steven Hayes, State v. Lishan Wang and State v. Daniel Webb: some of the most prominent cases in Connecticut.  As a prosecutor, Attorney Fasano is listed in 273 reported cases: a case is only reported if there has been a guilty verdict.  As a presiding judge, Judge Fasano sat in some of the busiest courts in the state; he has been involved in literally tens of thousands of cases that went to plea during his long and distinguished career.   First and foremost, however, Roland raised four remarkable sons: Michael (Elliott Mattox), Matthew, Timothy (Caitlin Danielson) and Christopher.  Roland set an example of how to love a child and how to know exactly what an individual needs to thrive and to grow.  His bond with his adoring wife, Donna, created the climate and the stage for his children to understand and to see what true love can be.

The son of the late Antoinette Petrillo Fasano and Alphonse Fasano, Roland leaves behind to cherish his memory: his best friend Jonathan Einhorn, his daughter-with-fur Neska Marie, his brother Victor Fasano, his nephew Lenny Fasano (Jill), his niece Valerie Mirabella (the late Steve), his sister-in-law Camille Fasano, his brother-in-law Vincent Falcone (Anne), his nieces Kathleen Doehla (Mark), Jennifer Wolf (Brian), Elizabeth Ditman, Alison Fasano and the late Tiffany Falcone, his nephew Gary Falcone, as well as his grand nieces Kristen Sharpe (Andrew), Karla Fasano, Angela Mirabella, Margaret Mirabella and Felicia Mirabella, and his grand nephew Robert Fasano. Roland was predeceased by his brothers Dr. Eugene Fasano and Dr. Leonard Fasano. Roland and Leonard, together again, two souls and tennis buddies, for all time.

A memorial service for Roland will be held on July 20, 2021 at 5:30pm at The Silver Sands Beach and Tennis Club in East Haven. The beach and the date hold significance because Roland and Donna first met on this date (Lunar Landing Day) and in this place in 1969.  Covid protocols should be followed and business casual attire is suggested.  Maresca Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.  In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of The Honorable Roland Fasano may be sent to: Vista Life Innovations, Attn:Pia Lauder, 107 Bradley Road Madison, Connecticut, 06443.

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