Audrey Cosentini

Audrey Aliterno Cosentini, a lifelong resident of Stamford, CT, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 1, 2024. She was 90 years old.

Audrey was born on July 18, 1933 to the late Oreste and Margaret Faugno Aliterno. She was the youngest of four daughters and remained close throughout her life to her sisters (all deceased), Eleanor (Mrs. James) Genovese, Marilyn (Mrs. Leonard) Tiscia and Lois (Mrs. Felix) Trimboli. She was also pre-deceased by her husband and love of her life Peter D. Cosentini (d. 2001), his three sisters RoseMarie “Sina” (Mrs. Victor) Carlucci, Stella (Mrs. John) Dorish and Catherine (Mrs. Armand) Maida, and by her nieces Anne Longo, RoseMarie Carlucci, Marie (“Tria”) Scanlan, Leanore (“Lee”) Battinelli, and her nephews Peter Maida, Armand Joseph (“AJ”) Maida, and Joseph (“Joey”) Trimboli.

Audrey is survived by her loving daughters Caryn Cosentini (Mrs. Joseph) Maida and Cathy Cosentini (Mrs. John) Bonczek, two grandsons Peter Chun and Jamie Hyun Bonczek, three step-grandchildren Michael Maida, Emily (Mrs. Michael) Ferro and Elizabeth (Mrs. Michael) Fusaro and seven step-great grandchildren.

Audrey was known for her keen intellect and love of education. She graduated with honors from Stamford High School in 1951 and New Haven State Teachers College (now Southern Connecticut State College) in 1955. She received her Master of Arts in Education in 1972 and her sixth year Certificate of Advanced study in 1984, both from Fairfield University.

She was an inspiring teacher, often working with gifted children. Audrey could bring history, language and math to life. She taught in the Wilton Public Schools for many years and was proud to have launched the Critical Thinking Skills study series.

After her children began elementary school Audrey became an active participant in various PTAs, the League of Women Voters, the Citizen Caucus for Education and the Mayor’s Conference on Education.

Over time these roles led to Audrey to become a strong and decisive leader within the Stamford Republican Party. She was known for her unflinching honesty and integrity. Her candor and clarity often made an impression. She could always make the hard, right choice. She cared deeply about keeping Stamford vital and livable and dedicated herself to improving the City through her many public roles. These included:

Member (1970-1973) and President (1972) of the Stamford Board of Education
Member of the Republican Town Committee (1974 and again in 1995)
Member and Co-minority Leader of the Board of Representatives (1975-1977)
Vice Chairman (1977-1980) and Chairman (1980-1983) of the Police Commission
Trustee of the Police Pension Board (1977-1981)
Member and Chairman of the Zoning Board (1996-2013)
Board Director of the Stamford Land Conservation Trust

Her achievements were many; from participating in the committee that spearheaded the desegregation of the Stamford Public schools, to being the driving force behind creating the first magnet school in Stamford and CT, to being named the first woman Police Commissioner in the City’s history.

In 1999, Audrey was recognized by the Stamford Historical Society as one of Stamford’s “Notable Women”.

For all that she was a formidable presence in the Stamford political arena, she was first and foremost a warm and wonderful wife and mother, and a doting grandmother. She enjoyed a 48-year marriage with Peter D. Cosentini, after meeting at St. Mary’s church when they were in middle school. They loved to laugh, dance, travel and spend time at the beach.

Audrey used to say her proudest achievements were her two daughters. She believed in broadening their horizons and in giving them “equal M&Ms” in all things. After the death of her husband, she and her daughters became even closer and dubbed themselves the “three-legged stool”. When her grandchildren arrived, Audrey devoted herself to their happiness and well-being.

Audrey maintained a life-long sisterhood with her 3 J’s: Joan Jaworowski, Janet Sarno (deceased) and June Carroll.

The last of her generation on both sides of the extended family, she loved her many nieces and nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

There will be a wake at the Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home,104 Myrtle Avenue, Stamford, CT on Thursday, March 7, 2024 from 4:00 – 8:00pm.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Leo’s Church, 24 Roxbury Road, Stamford, CT on March 8, 2024 at 11:00am.

Donations may be made to the Stamford Land Conservation Trust, 22 First Street, Stamford, CT 06905 or to the Stamford Historical Society, 1508 High Ridge Road, Stamford. CT 06903.

For online condolences go to www.cognetta.com.