Giles Ward Desmond

Giles Ward "Bud" Desmond, 86, of Simsbury, husband of Gail Musson and the late Winifred (Hickman) Desmond died Saturday, February 8, 2020 at The McAuley in West Hartford. He was born May 24, 1933 in Hartford, son of the late Daniel Giles and Helen (Douai) Desmond and had lived in Avon and Simsbury his entire life. He was a Veteran of the US Air Force. Giles was a graduate of The University of Connecticut, Class of 1955, having received his Bachelors Degree in Math. During his time there, he devoted his greatest attention on ROTC and was director of singing at his All Fraternity Sing. Mr. Desmond was an actuary at Aetna for his entire working career. He was a member of the Church of Saint Ann in Avon, member of the Avon Volunteer Fire Department, where he was Treasure for over 40 years and was also an advisor of Kids for Kids, a charity for children with cancer, for 25 years. He and two friends staged clothing drives each year and drove it to needy communities in Appalachia, making 20 annual trips. Summer trips to Winnie's family homestead in Nebraska were a treasured vacation for him as were the Hickman family reunions. He was part of a longstanding couples' bridge club. Bud was an avid fan of the Boston Red Sox, UCONN Women's Basketball, and the New York Giants. In his early adulthood, he played softball on an Aetna league, and he played tennis until he was 80. Bud and Gail were married in 2008, and they traveled extensively to Europe in the first years they were married. He was a devoted son, husband, father, grandfather, neighbor, and friend who will be missed by many who knew and loved him. He is survived by his wife, Gail Musson, his three children, Anne Haile and husband Steven of Severna Park, MD, James Desmond of Shirley, MA and Catherine Eustis and husband Steven of Essex Junction, VT, his grandchildren Jaime Haile Burns, Eric Haile, Sarah Eustis, Jessica Eustis and Brian Eustis and a large number of brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews. In addition to his beloved first wife, Winnie, he was predeceased by his sisters Helen Desmond and Barbara Kenny. Friends may call the Vincent Funeral Home, 120 Albany Turnpike in Canton on Friday, February 14th from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 AM on Saturday, February 15th at the Church of Saint Ann, 289 Arch Road in Avon followed by burial in St. Ann's Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Make a Wish Foundation, 1702 East Highland Ave., Suite 400, Phoenix, AZ 85016 or the Hartford Bishop's Foundation, 467 Bloomfield Avenue, Bloomfield, CT 06002. Please visit Bud's "Book of Memories" at www.vincentfuneralhome.com for online tributes.