Joseph M. Delaney

1924 - 2011

FLORIDA - Joseph M. Delaney, Esq. entered into rest Friday, April 29, 2011 in Florida.

Attorney Delaney was born in Hartford on July 8, 1924, and was the son of the late Joseph M. and Anna Lane Delaney. He was raised in Meriden and graduated from Meriden High School.

Joe enlisted on Dec. 8, 1942, entered the U.S. Navy service upon graduation from high school and served on an LST (landing ship tank) in the Pacific Theater during World War II. After an honorable discharge from the Navy, he attended and graduated from Catholic University earning Phi Beta Kappa honors for scholarship and academic excellence. He then earned his baccalaureate of laws degree from Harvard Law School.

He began his legal career in New Haven, opened a law practice in Meriden, but soon thereafter settled in Wallingford where he would serve the community for over 50 years as town attorney, town prosecutor, later a judge in the then-existing town court, but always as a trusted and learned counselor and advocate for his many clients. Though his client list included large insurance companies, manufacturers, the State of Connecticut and many municipalities, construction companies and other corporate citizens, he was most gratified to assist his friends and neighbors in resolving problems, large and small, in a dignified and respectful fashion.

His peers, judges and other lawyers consistently awarded him the highest ratings for legal knowledge and skill and ethics. He was inducted into the prestigious American College of Trial lawyers, a tiny and select group representing the top trial advocates in America. While he was a member of the Connecticut State Bar Examining Committee he supervised, wrote and corrected the Connecticut Bar Examinations. As a founding partner in Delaney, Zemetis & Triplett, he continued in the active practice of law, until retiring to Florida in 2003, but maintained his affiliation with and active interest in the law firm through the date of his death.
In addition to the law, he was deeply interested and widely read in history, philosophy, politics and religion. He actively pursued a passion for aviation, ham radio, photography, tennis, sailing, and gardening. Though he had many friends, he particularly enjoyed time spent with his closest friend, the late Anthony (Chick) Cassella. He will be remembered for his fierce intelligence, strong religious convictions, character, moral clarity and courage, sense of humor, quick Irish wit and generosity.

Attorney Delaney is survived by his two sons, Joseph M., Jr. (MaryLee) and Jonathan M.; three sisters, Mary Lee, of California, Joan Hobart, of Pennsylvania, and Dorothy Backes, of Florida. He is also survived by three grandchildren, Dominick, Lucien and Persephone; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sister, Ann.

A memorial Mass is planned for Saturday, June 11, at 11 a.m. in the Church of the Resurrection, 115 Pond Hill Road, Wallingford, (203) 265-1694. For those who wish, donations in his memory may be made to the Church of the Resurrection or Wallingford Wishing Well, 382 N. Cherry St. Ext., Wallingford, CT 06492-2309, (203) 294-0060.