Christine Villani

Christine Swanson Villani passed away on May 2nd, 2023 after a long illness. She was born in New York on March 22, 1946, raised by her parents, Tanya and Larry Swanson and doted on by her grandmother Agafea Towstick. She loved being taken to Yankee Stadium and her dad would often lament she’d spend more time swooning over Mickey Mantle than watching the game. She grew up in New Jersey and was a proud graduate of Wayne Hills High School, Class of 1963, maintaining friendships with many classmates over the years.

After having her children, she pursued a successful career in finance working in University Grants Administration and Sponsored Projects. Over the years, she worked to significantly increase research funding to prestigious universities including Columbia, Weill Cornell and NYU. She was fulfilled in her work but absolutely adored her colleagues and direct reports and missed them immensely upon her retirement at the end of 2014.

Christine had an intense passion for travel, and enjoyed many trips and made so many cruise friends in her lifetime. She was also a rabid UCONN basketball fan and loved cheering on both the women’s and men’s teams, and coach Geno in particular.

She was predeceased by her husband and friend Joseph.

Christine was a loving mother and leaves behind her four children, Andrew, Jill, and twins Dean & Kenneth. Son in law George Arvanitis. She was also a beloved grandmother to Isabella, Andrew, and Jasan. She enjoyed a special relationship with her granddog Scotty who loved her equally in return.

Christine lived a full and fulfilling life and will be remembered fondly by all those who knew her.