JOSEPH GUIDA

1923 - 2017

Joseph Guida, 94, passed away quietly at his home Monday, August 21, 2017. He was the 12th child of thirteen raised by Alexander and Mary (Majewski) Guida, who, after immigrating from Poland, built a farm and a dairy business in 1911 that served Middlesex County for decades. He is predeceased by his wife Gertrude "Trudy" Breier, six brothers, Al, Tony, Frank, Bill, Stanley and John and five sisters, Gladys Janecek, Gene Pyrzenski, Marie Hall, Helen Swicklas, Stephie Yedresek, and Bonnie Grichek. Joe exceled in track and field and graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1942. He was a co-owner of Sunshine Realty and retired officer of Sunshine Dairy in Middletown, CT. With his brother, Tony, they owned and operated Sunshine Convenience Stores for eight years prior to his retirement. In 1991, Tony and Joe sold 100 acres to Middletown significantly below market value for Open Space at the corner of Round Hill Road and Coleman Road appropriately named the Guida Family Conservation Area. He loved his life with Trudy and loved the land his parents farmed talking many times about the early days with his 12 siblings. With Trudy, he traveled across the US and Europe on land tours and cruises. His last cruise was a return to the Panama Canal with his loving niece, Donna (Janecek) Drouin and her husband, Dan. He served Middletown in several roles. Joe was on the Harbor Commission and was part of the Mayor's Committee on Riverfront Development that planned and designed the beautification of the Ct River waterfront park for which he received a Certificate of Honor from The Rockfall Corporation for their design. He was a Charter Member of the Sports Hall of Fame, on the Southwest School Building Committee for the Wesley Elementary School, and a Corporator of the Farmers and Mechanics Savings Bank. In addition, Joe was a member of the Marion K. Schultz Memorial Cancer Fund Committee at Middlesex Hospital. He personally funded a new ICU patient care room in Trudy's memory. He was elected to the Board of Governors of the Connecticut Association of Dairy and Food Sanitatarians, Inc. and was President of the Middletown Lion's Club, Executive Board Member of the Middletown County Council Boy Scouts and the CT Farm Bureau. The Cadillac Committee was one of his favorite fund raisers which he worked on for many, many years at St Mary's of Czestochowa RC Church with Father Al and the men of St Mary's. He is a life member of the S-X Fish and Game Club and the Elks Club in Middletown. Joe recently enjoyed a surprise birthday party with many of his nieces, nephews and friends in June. Funeral services will be held Saturday (Aug. 26th) at 9:45 a.m. from Biega Funeral Home, 3 Silver St., Middletown, followed by a 10:30 Funeral Liturgy at St. Mary of Czestochowa Church, Middletown. Burial will be in Pine Grove Cemetery, Middletown. Friends may call at Biega Funeral Home on Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. Those who wish may send memorial contributions to St Mary of Czestochowa Church, 79 S. Main St., Middletown, CT 06457. To share memories or express condolences online please visit www.biegafuneralhome.com.