Jeffrey Peter Ossen

OSSEN--Jeffrey Peter, Esq. of Mansfield Center and Singer Island, FL died peacefully with his beloved family at his side Sunday (September 16, 2007), at Beth Israel Deaconness Medical Center, Boston, MA, from complications of the kidney cancer he had so courageously fought with superb humor the last three years. Mr. Ossen was the son of the late Harry and Jessie Ossen of Torrington, CT. He was a graduate of Torrington High School, the University of Connecticut, and Harvard Law School. He also held a Masters Degree in political science from UConn. Soon after graduation from law school Jeff returned to eastern Connecticut where he became active in town and state politics, practiced real estate and family law and became a well known developer, mobile home park owner, and philanthropist. Jeff had been in the manufactured housing business for 35 years and was a recognized leader in the industry. He was the founder of the Connecticut Manufactured Housing Association and served as its first president and continued as a member of its board. Previously, he was president of the New England Manufactured Housing Association, which was terminated in 1995 by agreement of all so that individual state associations might take its place. His term as president of NEMA was the longest of any person ever serving in that office. Beginning in 1967 with one 13 space park on a gravel road in Mansfield Center, Jeff built a manufactured housing company with communities in three states, composed of almost 900 sites. Prior to his decision in 1981 to devote full time to manufactured housing, Jeff practiced law in Mansfield. This followed a stint as Assistant Professor of Business Law at the University of Connecticut in Storrs. In prior years, he was a member of the Mansfield Town Council and also Mansfield's Deputy Mayor. He later served as chair of the E. O. Smith High School's building committee at the time it became independent of UConn and was designated Region 19. Subsequent to that, he was a member and chair of the Windham Region Transit District. A believer in community service, Jeff was a longtime member of the board of Windham Hospital in Willimantic, currently serving as Treasurer and chair of its finance committee. School children in the Windham and North Windham school districts benefited from his generous music programs. He was a strong patron of the opera, C.A.R.E., and numerous other charitable and political organizations. Mr. Ossen leaves behind his wife, Eileen (Moran) Ossen of Mansfield Center, CT his children: Carolyn Ossen of Stamford, CT, Jacqueline (Ossen) Berkowitz and her husband Mark and beloved grandchildren Haley and Zachary of West Hartford, CT, Elizabeth Ossen, her partner John Hebert and grandchild Marissa of Enfield, NH; his joyously anticipated grandchild; his sister Harriet Zomback and her husband Robert of Highland Park, NJ; a devoted nephew, Neal Zomback and wife Travon, children Harold, Aaron, Jason and Hannah of Cheshire; a cousin Neil Ossen of West Hartford, CT, a cousin Regina of Baltimore, MD; and Leslie of Beverly Hills, FL; two stepchildren Sara Godere of Mystic, CT and Eric Godere of Willimantic, CT; as well as several important sisters and brothers-in-law, friends, and acquaintances too numerous to list but all of whom he thoroughly enjoyed. Funeral services were held Tuesday, September 18th at Temple B'Nai Israel, in Willimantic. A Memorial Service will be held on Sunday September 30 at 1pm at Windham Hospital, main entrance, Shea building in the atrium. Reception will follow. Memorial contributions may be made to the Kidney Cancer Association, 1234 Sherman Ave. Ste 203, Evanston, IL 60202-1375, Windham Hospital Foundation, Inc., 112 Mansfield Ave., Willimantic, CT 06226 or the Jeffrey P. Ossen Family Foundation, PO Box 215, No. Windham, CT 06256. Arrangements entrusted to Weinstein Mortuary, Hartford , CT.