West Haven Icon Mike ‘Vio’ Violano Dies At 67, Mourned By Community

WEST HAVEN, CT — The West Haven community and beyond is mourning the sudden death of longtime coach and local business owner Mike “Vio” Violano, who died Oct. 19 at the age of 67.

Violano, a West Haven High School and University of New Haven graduate, owned Vio’s Sports Plus for close to four decades. It was a place that was his “pride and joy,” according to his obituary.

“Anyone that walked through those doors was treated like family, because that was the Vio way,” the obituary reads. “With the help of his dedicated Vios crew, Pinkie, Rob, Uncle Marty, Maria, Mr. Ken, Michael, Adam, Mark and Marcus, the store became a staple of the West Haven community.”

“Vio” was also a longtime and legendary hockey coach who won four state championships at Notre Dame-West Haven and another title at North Haven High School in 2003.

In a post on Facebook, Notre Dame said Violano led the team with “passion and dedication.”

Violano started with Notre Dame as an assistant coach in 1984 and later as head coach from 1998 to 1997.

“During his impressive eleven-year tenure, the Green Knights achieved a remarkable record of 151-80-9 and celebrated four state championships,” the post reads. “He was a fixture of the West Haven Youth Hockey program and Connecticut hockey overall.”

Notre Dame junior Eddie Thomas played for Violano in the West Haven Youth Hockey program and remembered him as an “incredible mentor who believed in all of us,” according to the post. “He taught us to play with heart and pushed us to be our best, both on and off the ice. His impact will always be with me.”

The North Haven Hockey team announced Violano’s death with a “heavy heart” on its Facebook page.

“Coach Violano has been a fixture in Connecticut hockey for decades,” the post reads. “Most recently he served as a member of the West Haven High coaching staff. On behalf of our coaches, players, and the scores of alumni players and parents, we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, and a round of ‘stick taps’ in his memory.”

Violano’s most cherished moments on the high school level were coaching “alongside his brother-in-law Joe Morrell (assistant coach) at Notre Dame, and with stepson Steve Harris at West Haven as the team’s assistant coach,” according to his obituary.

“The respect in the hockey world did not end on the high school level as Coach V coached in the West Haven, Southern, and Yale youth hockey programs, as well as serving as a girls coach in the Mid-Fairfield program,” the obituary reads.

Violano also had an impact on youth sports teams throughout the city with his Vio’s Sports Plus store.

“The Ray Tellier Midget Football League wishes to express our deepest and most heartfelt condolences to the family of Mike ‘Vio’ Violano on his passing,” reads a post on the league’s Facebook page. “Vio was a dear friend to the Seahawks program, as well as to every sports league and activity in the local area. Vio could always be counted on to fulfill every request for sponsorship, support or apparel. This great loss will be felt by the entire Westie community.”

Violano was also a standout athlete at West Haven High, starring in soccer, hockey and baseball. He was inducted into the West Haven Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011.

Calling hours will take place from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 23 at West Haven Funeral Home.

Read the full obituary at West Haven Funeral Home here.