Charles S. Vigra

C harles S. Vigra, 88, of Kensington, beloved husband of Gail Vigra, known as “his bride”, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018 at the Village of Kensington Place in Meriden, where they recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.

Born in New Britain, he was the son of the late Charles and Rose (Marieni) Vigra.    Charles was a Kensington resident most of his life and was a graduate of Berlin High School in 1948 where he was president of his class, and the University of Connecticut in 1952, where he was president of the S.A.E.  He was a pilot in the U.S. Air Force and served in Japan.

Charles was well known as a successful New York Life Insurance agent for over 40 years and was the founder of his local property and casualty insurance agency.  He was a member of the New York Life Million Dollar Round Table and the President’s Club for many years.   He and his wife attended many New York Life conventions throughout the country and around the world.

Charles was an active member of Shuttle Meadow Country Club for over 40 years and at the age of 74 had his first hole-in-one.  At Shuttle Meadow Country Club, he and his wife attended formal candlelight dinner dances, where they enjoyed dancing and their many friends.   Charles was a blue bird monitor at the country club.

Charles and Gail enjoyed their vacation homes in Pompano Beach Florida, Wilmington VT and Quonnie Rhode Island where he loved clamming and surf swimming in front of their home.  He enjoyed skiing with his entire family at Mt Snow, Haystack, Vail Colorado, and in Austria.

Charles was honored to be inducted into the Berlin High School Athletic Hall of Fame for baseball in 2013.  He was a former member of the Berlin Lions Club, Knights of Columbus, and the VFW.

Surviving are his wife, Gail (Bergenback) Vigra; three daughters, Michele Urban and her husband Ronald of Southwick, MA, Kim Wheeler of Smyrna, TN, and Alison Buesing of Monson, MA; four grandchildren, Matthew, Tim, Shannon, and Liam; two great-grandchildren, Hyla and Jaxson; and a sister,  Elizabeth Sokoloski.  He was predeceased by a brother, Emil Vigra.  The family would like to thank the entire staff at the Village of Kensington Place for their loving care.