Erwin J. Cole

COLE Erwin J. Cole, age 84 of Stratford, passed away peacefully on Friday, August 3, 2007. He was the beloved husband of the late Gloria Cole and son of the late Max and Lin Cohen of Fairfield. Erwin was born in Bridgeport and graduated from Bassick High School. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II as a flight officer and was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds he received when his B-17 aircraft was shot down on a bombing mission over Germany where he was held as a Prisoner of War until he was liberated on April 5, 1945. He attended Temple University of Philadelphia and received his law degree from Boston University. He served three terms as a State Representative from Fairfield in the Connecticut Legislature. Erwin practiced law in the City of Bridgeport for more than 50 years. He is survived by his loving sister, Harriet Giddon and her husband, Arthur, of West Hartford; his children, Merritt Cole and his wife, Beth, of New Jersey, Wendy Cole of Pennsylvania, Matthew Cole of Pennsylvania, Terry Lampone of Massachusetts and Donna Belinkie of Connecticut; his grandchildren, Samuel and Julie Cole, Karen, Jason, Scott, Ryan, Michael, John and Kim. His great-grandchildren, Emma, Lauren, Connor and Isabelle. Many nieces and nephews. Burial will be private.