Joseph P. Apicelli

Joseph P. Apicelli, 69, of Groton passed away unexpectedly on July 12, 2025 at Lawrence + Memorial Hospital in New London following a heart attack.  He was born on April 27, 1956, the son of his late parents, Joseph J. Apicelli and Olga (Longo) Apicelli Fredsbo.

Joe was raised in Groton and graduated from Saint Bernard High School, Montville in 1975.  Following high school, Joe moved to San Francisco and worked in the hospitality and restaurant business, honing his craft as a bartender. This profession well-suited his exuberant personality and very funny sense of humor.  Joe had many adventures on the West Coast before relocating back home to Groton in 1990.  He continued to work as a bartender for the next ten years, entertaining patrons at Foxwoods Casino and other area establishments with his animated storytelling.

Joe was a huge sports fan, with roots going back to his time as quarterback of his high school football team.  He could talk about any sport with anyone.  He was a fervent supporter of the San Francisco 49ers, holding season tickets during his time there and attending games with good friends. In recent years, the Green Bay Packers drew his support. He was an avid Yankees fan and enjoyed watching collegiate softball.

One of Joe’s favorite hobbies was cooking; he was a master in the kitchen and known for whipping up mouth-watering meals for family and friends. Dinner was a treat for those at his table – good food was always punctuated with lots of joking and laughter.  He also catered on the side.

Joe’s true passion in life was serving others through volunteering with the American Red Cross (ARC).  His first deployment was to the Houston Astrodome in 2005, sheltering the victims of Hurricane Katrina.  Over the past 20 years, Joe was deployed nearly 60 times assisting national and local disaster recovery efforts following major events including hurricanes, wildfires, and tornados. Joe specialized in ARC’s Mass Care response including sheltering, feeding, and cooking for those impacted by natural disasters. He was also an Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV) driver, delivering food and supplies to those in the hardest-hit areas. Running an ERV was a “boots on the ground” assignment at which Joe truly excelled and found most rewarding – it merged his caring, outgoing nature with his dedication to helping people in need.  With his experience, Joe provided training to new volunteers and was a spokesperson for ARC, reporting on conditions at disaster relief locations and the assistance the organization was providing to those in need. Over the course of his many ARC assignments, Joe helped tens of thousands of affected people by providing a warm meal and a friendly smile.  Along the way, he made close and lasting friendships with the many other dedicated ARC volunteers from around the country with whom he served and lovingly called his Red Cross Family.  

Joe is survived by his best friend and sister Rita Apicelli of Groton; his niece and nephew, Shannon Windisch Pociu (David) of Cheshire, CT and Michael Windisch (Lacy Simkowitz) of San Francisco, CA; grandnieces and grandnephew, Anna Pociu, Daniel Pociu, and Ina Windisch; and his beloved feline companion, Leo.  He is also survived by many cousins.

Joe’s spirit and laughter will be deeply missed by his family and friends.  

A funeral mass will be held at 10:30 am on Friday, July 25, at Sacred Heart Church, 56 Sacred Heart Dr., Groton.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Joe’s honor may be made to the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association.  The family asks that friends do “what Joe would do,” a kind deed for others and pay it forward.