Andrew P. Hadden Jr.

Groton - Andrew P. Hadden Jr., 82, of Noank, husband of the late Dorothy (Ringland) Hadden, passed away Friday, Sept. 13, 2013, surrounded by his family.

Born in Hartford, on Oct. 14, 1930, he was the son of the late Andrew P. Hadden Sr. and Blanche (Morin) Hadden.

After attending local schools, he enlisted in the the U.S. Marine Corps from 1948 to 1955. During his years served, Andy was injured in Changjin Reservoir, Korea, where he was awarded the Purple Heart. Upon his honorable discharge, Andy continued his faithful service re-enlisting in the USMC and with the U.S. Army and the National Guard, retiring in 1990, with over 40 years of military service.

Andy earned a certificate from Three Rivers Community College in law enforcement, and then retired as interim chief of police at the Groton Submarine Base after many years of service. After his retirement, he served as a crossing guard for the Groton Town Police Department at the Noank Elementary School and Robert E. Fitch Senior High School for many years.

Andy was the founder of the Dorothy R. Hadden Memorial Scholarship Fund, Inc. which provides graduating students intending to pursue an educational degree with scholarships.

His family will remember him as a loving and caring father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He enjoyed watching the Red Sox, the UConn women's basketball team, listening to jazz music, and above all, spending time with his family and attending his grandson, Lake's sporting events.

He is survived by his four daughters, Linda Shapera and her husband, David, of Arizona, Cherrie Hiles and her husband, Arthur, of Groton, Deborah Hadden and her husband, William Wyld, of Noank, and Andrea Lapointe and her husband, Roger, of Ledyard; his brother, Robert Bruce Hadden and his wife, Judith; his sisters, Lynne Ross and husband, Douglas, and Katherine Wampler; 11 grandchildren, Daniel Shapera, Rikki Lynne Castro, Charlie Shapera, Kristie Anne Reid, Mark Watson, Brent Hadden Wyld, Ryan Hadden Wyld, Lake Hadden Wyld, Nicole Farr, Nina Lapointe and Nathan Lapointe ; eight great-grandchildren, Slade Shapera, Mauve Shapera, Stetson and Stephen Shapera, Jaden Castro, Noah Castro, Cameron Farr and Brayden Farr.

His family will receive friends from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 20, at the Mystic Funeral Home, Route 1, Mystic. A Funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, at St. Mary Mother of the Redeemer Church, 69 Groton Long Point Road, Groton. Burial with full military honors will follow at the Noank Valley Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Anne's Shrine, 92 St. Anne's Road, PO Box 280, Isle LaMotte, VT 05463-0280 or www.saintannesshrine.org

Please visit www.mysticfuneralhome.com to leave an online expression of sympathy.