Anthony N. (Chris) Polselli, Jr., passed peacefully at home surrounded by his family on Friday, October 4, 2024. Born on May 24, 1930, in Providence, RI, he was the son of the late Anthony (Christy) Polselli and Cora (Marland) Polselli and stepson of the late Genevieve (Miley) Polselli. He is survived by his beloved wife of 67 years Helen (Magnan) Polselli and his beloved daughter Linda M. Polselli.
He graduated from Central High School in Providence and did some course work at URI extension. Chris was very proud to have served his country for four years in the US Air Force during the Korean War where he was deployed for two and a half years to Misawa Air Base in Japan. Chris was a longtime member of the William Shields Post #43 American Legion and was a founding member of the Sampson Air Force Base Association.
He was an avid sports fan especially baseball where he played in the Amateur League as a pitcher for Prata Athletic Club and pitched 11 winning games. That year they had a record of 21 wins and no losses. He followed the Red Sox, the Cleveland Browns, Patriots, Bruins and Celtics. He also loved golfing and bowling. He loved to make up sports trivia quizzes for his friends and family. Chris was a jazz enthusiast all his life and especially an ardent fan of Frank Sinatra. He was a founding member of the Rhode Island Rhythm and Blues Preservation Society.
Chris was a fanatic about food preparation, particularly Italian food. He loved to travel by car to see the USA. He enjoyed the challenge of handicapping the greyhound races and loved our weekly or annual trips to Saratoga, NY, to enjoy thoroughbred racing, as well.
Chris met his wife at Quonset Point NAS when he accepted a job as a Sales Representative for Campbell Soup Co., and Helen processed his resignation from Quonset Point. Later he became an insurance agent followed by staff manager for Prudential Insurance Co. Years later, he became a claims representative for the Social Security Administration. In 1980, Chris was named Crime Prevention
Coordinator for the Warwick Police Department and was appointed director of the Warwick Citizens Volunteer Association (WCVA) where he led 75 volunteers for over 10 years to assist police in states of emergency. In 1993, Mayor Chafee appointed him to also be the Municipal Court Supervisor from which he retired 30 years ago.
Chris is also survived by his sister-in-law Louise (Magnan) Noret (late husband Robert), and many beloved cousins, nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, October 10, 2024, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in St. Kevin Church, 333 Sandy Lane, Warwick, RI, with a mass of Christian burial at 11:00 a.m. Burial with military honors will follow at St. Ann’s Cemetery, Cranston, RI.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Chris’s memory to Hope Health Hospice, 1085 North Main Street, Providence, RI 02904, will be greatly appreciated. Arrangements entrusted to the Barrett and Cotter Funeral Home, Warwick. Remembrances and condolences of Chris may be shared at barrettandcotter.com
