Obituary: John P. ‘Jack’ Ambrogio, 87; Former Hamden Police Chief

HAMDEN, CT — (From Beecher & Bennett Funeral Home): John P. “Jack” Ambrogio, Ret. Chief, HPD, 87, beloved husband of Maureen O’Connor Ambrogio, passed away at Yale-New Haven Hospital on June 19, 2021.

John was born on March 25, 1934 to the late Rose DelGrego Ambrogio and William Ambrogio. He grew up in Hamden and graduated from Hamden High School. After serving in the United States Army, he joined the Hamden Police Department in 1956. He was appointed Police Chief by Mayor Lucien DiMeo on September 5, 1974 and continued to serve until his retirement on October 7, 1998.

Chief Ambrogio sought to improve the quality of the service of his organization. Recognizing the need for better communication with the public, he sought the help of Hamden Mental Health Services. Under the direction of Dr. Tom Reid, the officers took part in training sessions of crisis intervention. He then established a victim service unit.

Chief Ambrogio encouraged the further education for the officers. He required psychological exams as part of hiring. He was immensely proud of the officers he served with. Chief Ambrogio served as a past president of the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association. John was a member of the Knights of Columbus, where he was a Fourth Degree Knight. He belonged to the Amity Club and enjoyed the Bocce Club.

He leaves to cherish his memory daughters Gayle Horan (Sean), Jacquelyn Bouvier (Edouard), Pamela Doolan (Robert), and Valerie Kammerer (Eric), and daughter in-law Sandra Ambrogio. He is also survived by his grandchildren, who gave him such joy; Jonathan and Noelle Bouvier, Alexandra and Melissa Doolan, Veronica Ambrogio Romee, William Kammerer, and Emily Horan, and two great-grandchildren Kisa and Dante Romee; his brother, Anthony “Pat” Ambrogio and his wife Rose, his brother in-law and great friend Nicholas Bauer and sister in-law Denise O’Connor Bauer; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his son John Ambrogio, and brothers Alfred Waltermire and Robert Ambrogio.

Funeral will be from Beecher & Bennett Funeral Home, 2300 Whitney Avenue, Hamden, Thursday June 24 at 9 a.m. followed by his Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Whitney Ave. Hamden. Friends may also visit with his family at the funeral home on Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Burial will be private.

Contributions in Chief Ambrogio’s memory may be made to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, www.stjude.org.

For more information and to leave online condolences, visit Beecher & Bennett Funeral Home here.