Louis A. Semento (Lou), 89, of Milford, died on March 23, 2017. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Gloria Pennacchia Semento; their three daughters, Camille (Russ) Mastrianni of Clayton, NC, Ann (John) Staudt of East Haven, Shelley (Barry) McLaughlin of Langhorne, PA, and his son, Anthony (Shari) Semento of Grapevine, TX. He is also survived by eleven grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.

Lou was born in Paterson, NJ on October 15, 1927, the son of Marie Florio Semento and Ernest Semento. He grew up in Paterson, raised by his grandparents, Carmela Smeriglio Semento and Luigi Semento, from the age of two when his mother died. He served as a Hospital Corpsman in the Navy during WWII. After graduating from Duquesne University with a degree in Chemistry and Math, he worked as an analytical chemist. He also worked as a formulating chemist in the pharmaceutical industry where he also was a salesman and sales manager. In 1971 he hired the first female drug salesperson in the industry. In 1982 he interrupted his career to work for the city of Milford at the request of Mayor Alberta Jagoe. He was responsible for negotiating all labor contracts for the city. He also implemented the first inventory of city property and equipment. On the day after a major flood in June, 1982, he had the city’s records, which were under water, frozen, and sent off to be freeze dried and therefore preserved without any damage. He also changed the way the city purchased insurance by introducing the bidding process. In 1985, he returned to the private sector where he was co-founder, first president, and CEO of NeoStrata Co. Inc., an international dermatological company. He retired from NeoStrata in 1996.

He has lived in Milford since 1956 where he was active in civic and religious activities. He served as Secretary of the Board of Education and chairman of the Personnel Committee in Milford for four years. He was responsible for negotiating all labor contracts for the Board of Education. He also prepared and implemented the first five year forecast of the city’s student population to better prepare a budget for future needs. He also served on various town committees. He was one of the founding members of Christ the Redeemer R.C. Church in 1966, serving on the finance committee of the first Parish Council. He was a lector for thirty years beginning with the first Mass in 1966. He was also a Eucharistic Minister for eight years and a religious education teacher for two years. He had many interests including genealogical research, photography, poker, and reading of non-fiction, especially science, politics, and economics.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, March 31, 2017 at 11 a.m. at Christ the Redeemer R.C. Church, 325 Oronoque Rd, Milford, CT 06461 (MEET DIRECTLY AT CHURCH).  Interment will be private. Friends and family are invited to call on from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the church. The family is being compassionately cared for by the CODY-WHITE FUNERAL HOME, 107 Broad Street, Milford, CT 06460. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the American Heart Association at donatenow.heart.org. To leave online condolences, please visit our website at www.codywhitefuneralservice.com.