Joseph Eugene Crapanzano Jr.

Joseph Eugene Crapanzano Jr.
Joseph Eugene Crapanzano Jr., of Milford, Connecticut, died on the morning of July 9, 2025, with his wife of 48 years, Kathleen (née Gorman), and their loyal 15-year-old rescue golden retriever, Zeke, by his side.

Born and raised in and around New Haven, Joe was the only child of Rose Bove Crapanzano and Joseph Eugene Crapanzano Sr., deeply rooted figures in the area's Italian American community. He is survived by his wife, Kathleen (Kathy); their three daughters, Theresa Crapanzano (New Hampshire), Maria Cherniske (Milford, CT) and Christina Crapanzano (Brooklyn, NY); sons-in-law David Cherniske (Milford, CT) and Joseph Terry (New Hampshire); a loving extended family; several grand-dogs; his faithful companion Zeke; and a cherished community of friends, colleagues and former students.

Known to most as "Mr. C"-Joe was a beloved and esteemed educator in the Stratford, Connecticut public school system for more than 50 years. A graduate of Fairfield University-where he received his bachelor's, master's and Certificate of Advanced Study in education-Joe began his career teaching special education alongside Kathy and later served as a school administrator and assistant principal at Stratford High School. He was a spirited presence on the sidelines of Stratford High's athletic events and an ever-willing participant at student activities-taking a face-full of dirt during mud volleyball or falling off a mule at donkey basketball. A fierce advocate for equity in education, he recognized potential in students who didn't fit the mold-perhaps because he never fit neatly into any mold himself.

Joe was not easily summed up.

He was a man of deep faith and a lifelong student of the Bible, always searching for meaning and connection between its stories and the modern world. Alongside Kathy, he taught Sunday school and volunteered at his church's annual Vacation Bible School. He was also a self-taught chef, most often found in the kitchen on Sundays, cooking by instinct while listening to WICC's "Italian House Party" and humming along to "That's Amore." He never wrote down a recipe-to the dismay of his many nieces and nephews, who still crave his spaghetti carbonara. He embraced dietary limitations as an exciting challenge, even helping one daughter adapt his legendary dishes to be vegan and gluten-free, standing by her side to taste-test and always recommending more garlic: "It's good for your heart," he'd say. He claimed the same was true for peppers, especially those that made you break a sweat.

Joe had many surprise talents and hidden interests. When his teenage daughter brought home a guitar, he picked it up and played a song. Ahead of another daughter's talent show, he dusted off his box-step dance skills. He reveled in the rewards of his gardening, watching his replanted "Charlie Brown tree" flourish into a grand pine and eagerly checking whether a tweak in the soil transformed his hydrangeas' colors. He owned two of every kind of tool and could wield each without needing directions. At the request of a veterinarian friend, he once parented an orphaned squirrel and monkey. On one of his first dates with Kathy, he showed up in a tiny Volkswagen with two Doberman Pinschers in the back seat. Years later, when a former student visited on a Harley Davidson, Joe rekindled his love of motorcycles, soon buying his own Harley, which he'd ride to school or church in one of his signature pastel shirts.

He spent summers riding, fishing, crabbing, eating "ah-beets" with "mootz" at Italian "avests," dancing in the streets to oldies cover bands and lifeguarding kids' parties with Kathy in their backyard pool-where cake fights (that he likely instigated) became a longstanding tradition. After the first year, he made sure to keep a second cake on hand. He was an enthusiastic stargazer and weather-follower, who never missed a chance to see waves crashing ahead of a storm. He also loved Tina Turner and doo-wop music, kept a running schedule of nearby fireworks displays and attended as many shows as possible including one just days before he passed.

He had a quiet humor, a huge heart and a profound love for his family, students, animals and God. He lived a full and beautiful life.

Joe's family invites all who knew and loved him to attend his Celebration of Life on Friday, September 26, 2025, from 4-8 p.m. at Pavilion 1 at Short Beach in Stratford, CT. Snacks and beverages will be provided, and attendees are encouraged to share their favorite stories of Joe. Services will be held at Wildermere Beach Congregational Church in Milford, CT, on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at 1:30 p.m., with fellowship and food to follow. A livestream link will be available for those unable to attend in person. Please email: joecrapanzanomemorial@gmail.com

In lieu of flowers, the family invites friends to honor Joe's memory by donating items-such as toys, treats or food-directly from a local animal shelter's wish list, or by contributing to Unified Sports, an organization that expands inclusive athletic opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities. Checks should be made payable to Bunnell Athletics, noting Unified Sports Program in the memo and sent to Stratford/Bunnell Unified Sports Program c/o Bunnell High School, 1 Bulldog Blvd, Stratford, CT 06614.