Chester Hardisty

Hardisty , Chester
Chester C Hardisty (Chet) 83, a lifelong Woodbury resident, passed away unexpectedly Thursday, August 2, 2012 at Hartford Hospital. Chet was born on October 25, 1928 to Chester and Estella Hardisty in Sharon, CT. He was the beloved husband of Gertrude (Cassidy) Hardisty. Chet graduated Woodbury High School at the age of 16. As a high school student, he had a part time job at Carl & Walt, which inspired his life long love of vehicles and their maintenance. Next, he started his own refuse business and shortly thereafter, he built the first two package stores in Woodbury. He then served in the U.S. Army Motor Pool from 1950 to 1952. Upon returning, he began his lifelong career as a developer in Woodbury. In 1954 along with his mother, he purchased the Curtis House, Connecticut's Oldest Inn. In 1963, he built Woodbury's first elderly housing complex at 19 Judson Avenue. In 1968, he started Woodbury's first daycare center, Woodbury Child Care Center. In the early '70's he developed Cedar Hollow (Denmo's) and ran the Camelot Hearth restaurant, all while building his wife's dream home. In the '80's he developed the industrial properties on Bacon Pond Road. Chet was best known for his outspoken political views and dry sense of humor. He was actively involved in town politics. He was a participant in every town election, whether he was running or not. He was the chairman of the first Historic Commission and served on the Zoning Commission and the Elderly Housing Commission. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Gertrude (Trudy) Cassidy Hardisty, his stepmother Evalina of Stamfordville, New York, brothers Raymond, Gary and John all of Woodbury, and is pre-deceased by his sister, Betty Peck. He leaves six children and their spouses: JoAnne and Paul Wislocki of Middlebury, Kathryn and Raymond Walauskas of Woodbury, Gerald and Marti of Andover, Susan and Thomas Hanrahan of Shelton, T.J. and Nick Brennan of Woodbury, and Christopher and Robin of Watertown. He will be greatly missed by his eleven grandchildren: Mike Wislocki, Kate Reilly, Karen Moreira and Peter Walauskas, Samantha and Rachel Hardisty, Jestelle and Emma Hanrahan, Theresa, Nicholas and Wyatt Brennan, and his three great- grandchildren Sean, Kyle and Abigail McCormick. He was predeceased by his granddaughter Kimberly Wislocki McCormick. He will be fondly remembered by his in-laws, some out-laws, a lot of nieces and nephews, countless cousins and many friends. The calling hours will be Sunday August 12th, 3-7pm at Carpino Funeral Home, 750 Main Street South, Southbury, CT. A Memorial Service will be held Monday August 13th at 11am in Sacred Heart Church, 910 Main Street South, Southbury. Burial will be at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the Woodbury Fire Department, PO Box 561, Woodbury, CT 06798 or plant a tree in his memory.