Picture above: KTrio of Walter Kasprzyk, Mary Tokarski, Julie Kasprzyk Cardona.

AWW sadly reports the unexpected passing of Julie Kasprzyk Cardona, 72, on January 15, 2021 in her home in North Haven, CT. Julie was in poor health for several years. She was born in Derby on March 29, 1948 and was the daughter of the late Benjamin and Julia Gluse Kasprzyk.  Julie had worked as a pre-press operator for GHP Media of West Haven for many years. She was a member of both the Connecticut and American Accordion Associations.  Loving sister of Mary Tokarski, Walter (Karen) Kasprzyk, Thomas (Wanda) Kasprzyk and the late Michael Fernino. Also survived by many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great nephews.  Predeceased by her brother-in-law Frank Tokarski.

The visiting hours will be Wednesday morning, Jan. 20th from 10:00 to 11:00 at The Havens Family, North Haven Funeral Home, 36 Washington Avenue. A funeral service will be conducted at 11:00.  Interment will follow in All Saints Cemetery. (masks and social distancing strictly required for all services).

Julie, her sister, Mary Tokarski and her brother, Walter Kasprzyk, are well known as the K Trio, all talented, accomplished and winning many prestigious accordion competitions over the years. Julie loved the accordion and won many solo competitions. She and her sister, Mary Tokarski, won the AAA Duet Championship for more than 12 years. Julie also was a national award winning typist.

Julie played 1st chair in The Fernino Quintet and Fernino Accordion Orchestra! By the time she was a teenager, Julie had already compiled over 150 trophies in local, state and national events! Her other hobbies included ice skating and going to concerts! As a member of the Accordion Symphony Society of New York, she performed symphonic works under the direction of Maestro Joseph Biviano. In 1967, she won her first U.S. Championship going on to compete in the Coupe Mondiale, held in Holland that year, where she placed 3rd. In 1964, Julie (and Mary, too) were honored by the American Accordionists’ Association with a special award as “Outstanding Student of the Year”. In 1968, she won the U.S. Championship again, this time traveling to England, and a 2nd place. In 1969, a record-breaking 3rd time U.S. Championship took her to the Coupe Mondiale in New York City, where she placed 4th.

Accordionists/musicians will greatly miss Julie. She is an inspiration to all. More information will be published in the February www.accordionusa.com news.