Wal JARVIS

1945 - 2025

JARVIS, Wal Of Portland, CT, left us peacefully, after a long and bravely fought battle with cancer, passing on January 31, at the age of 79. He was born in Hartford, CT on May 10, 1945 to Penny and William Jarvis. Wal spent most of his life as a Portland resident, residing on the Penfield Family Farm.

Wal Jarvis worked his entire career in what was then, a fourth-generation family manufacturing business. Wal attended Choate, where he excelled at athletics. He then went on to graduate from Boston University. He later attended the OPM Executive Management Program at Harvard Business School. Wal went to work in Lynn, MA, before moving to Rochester, NH, eventually moving back to Portland, CT, where he was named President of Jarvis Airfoil, Inc. He modernized and grew his business, including an expansion into the medical implant manufacturing industry by starting Jarvis Surgical, Inc. Wal Jarvis retired in 2015 after successfully dividing and passing his businesses down to his two sons, the fifth generation of Jarvis owner/operators. He is remembered by all who worked with him as committed and caring, an owner who always made time for his employees and never hesitated to roll up his sleeves when another hand was needed.

An avid traveler, Wal and Hedy continued to visit remote parts of the world after his retirement. He rode an elephant, canoed in Vietnam, fished in Mexico and drove the Autobahn. Wal regularly attended Nascar Championship races with his dear friend Henry Colangelo. An accomplished amateur race-car driver, Wal was happiest when experiencing the challenge of the traction and turns on the racetrack. Whether it was skipping over the chop on Long Island Sound in his Cigarette boat or driving his highly modified 911 race car into Big Bend at the end of Lime Rock Park's Sam Posey Straight, where he regularly felt the joy of speed.

Wal Jarvis is survived by his wife, Hedy Gaebel Jarvis of Portland, CT; his two sons, Jason P. Jarvis of West Hartford, CT and Clayton F. Jarvis of Easthampton, MA; his stepdaughter, Victoria Tchetchet of Portland, CT; and his two brothers; Penfield Jarvis of West Hartford, CT and Marshall Jarvis of York Harbor, ME; as well as many loved nieces and nephews. Wal Jarvis was the patriarch of a large blended family including ten grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his first wife, Judy.

Wal's family would like to thank everyone at Masonicare for taking such wonderful care of Wal during his time with them. A very special thanks goes to Wal's care giver Emanuel Ayidana, who was with him every day.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Tuesday, February 18, at Trinity Episcopal Church, 345 Main St., Portland, CT. Burial will follow at Center Cemetery, Portland, CT. Friends may call at the Portland Memorial Funeral Home, 231 Main St., PORTLAND, CT, on Monday, February 17, from 4 to 7 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Portland Food Bank or St. Vincent DePaul of Middletown, CT.