Hugh Cunningham Curran

Age 82, beloved husband of Eleanor Reagan Curran, entered into eternal life at his home in Milford, CT on February 10, 2006. He was born and raised in Bridgeport on January 20, 1924 and son of the late Mary Elizabeth and Hugh Aloysius Curran. He is survived by his five children, Maura Breen and her husband, Jay, and their son Ryan, Mary Pat Healy and her husband, Peter and his children, Sarah, Kateri, Peter and Mary, son Hugh and his wife, Carol, and their children, Olivia, Hugh Michael and Jack Reagan, daughters M. Kate and Mary Ellen. He is also survived by his sister Nona Clark, husband Bernie and his brother Bill Curran, wife Marie, sister and brother in-law, Robert & Dorie Tassinari as well as many nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his brother Jack and his three children, Kathleen, Nancy and Jack. Curran proudly volunteered to serve his country in the U.S. Army as a 1st Lieutenant Fighter Pilot in the 523 Fighter Squadron, serving four years and flying 95 combat missions in the European theatre with numerous medals in recognition of meritorious achievements: Air Medal Twelve Oak Leaf Clusters, Two Oak Leaf Clusters, Distinguished Presidential Citation, European Theater Ribbon, Three Battle Stars as well as the Distinguished Flying Cross. Curran attended the College of the Holy Cross, and graduated from Boston College School of Law. He was admitted into the Connecticut Bar in July 1951. He also received an Honorary Doctor of Law, University of Bridgeport. He and Eleanor were married in 1952 and they returned to Bridgeport where he practiced law for several years. Curran served as State Representative to the State of Connecticut from 1955-1957, serving on Judiciary Committee before representing the City of Bridgeport as City Attorney from 1957 through 1965. He was then elected to Mayor, City of Bridgeport, and served from 1965-1971. After his three terms as Mayor, he then worked for Peoples Bank as Vice President, Community and Public Affairs. In 1974, he was sworn in to the Judicial Branch for the State of Connecticut and served as a Superior Court Judge for 22 years and a Trial Referee for 12 years. He had a true sense of love for his family, friends, community, the law and a good game of golf as a longstanding member of Race Brook Country Club. Curran served on many community boards and was extremely proud of these lifetime accomplishments. He was appointed as Commissioner of Aeronautics, State of CT, Member of Advisory Commissions, Dept. of Community Affairs, Advisory Board Chair, Dept. of Social Services, 4th District, Past Commander and State Judge Advocate, VFW, Catholic War Veterans, Association of Municipal Attorneys, Past President, CT Conference of Mayors, Democratic State Central Committee and Delegate to the 1960 and 1968 Democratic Conventions, Past President, CT Judges Association, Ancient Order of Hibernians, Knights of Columbus, local and state Bar Associations, Urban Coalition of Greater Bridgeport, St. Vincents Hospital, Goodwill Industries of Western CT, American School for the Deaf, United Way, Rehabilitation Center of Eastern Fairfield County, Greater Bridgeport Boys Club, Lauralton Hall, CBIA, and the Cardinal Shehan Center. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, February 14 at 10:30 a.m. in St. Anns Church, 501 Naugatuck Ave., Milford. Interment in St. Michael Cemetery, Stratford. Friends may call on Monday from 3 to 8 p.m. at the Cody-White Funeral Home, 107 Broad Street on the Green, Milford. Memorial contributions may be made to the Cardinal Shehan Center, 1494 Main Street, Bridgeport, CT 06604 or David P. Perini Jr. Quality of Life Clinic, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, c/o Beth Partlow, 278 Worcester Street, Southbridge, MA 01550.