Henry L. Bugden Jr.

Henry Lawrence Bugden, Jr., of Woodstock, CT, beloved husband of Jean (Boltrucyk) Bugden, passed away December 18, 2023, in Mansfield, CT. He was born August 14, 1939, in Thompsonville, CT, the seventh of eight children of the late Henry Lawrence, Sr., and Catherine (Tompkins) Bugden. He grew up hunting and fishing the woods and streams of New England and his parents' homeland of Nova Scotia, which led to a lifelong passion for the outdoors.

Henry and Jean met as teenagers, married in 1957, and for the next 66 years, always with his beaming smile, Henry would introduce Jean as "my beautiful bride." He brought her flowers on their anniversaries - one red rose for each year of marriage and one white carnation for each child. Henry's greatest joy was joining his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren as they discovered the world. Fishing being a favorite pastime, Henry and Jean seldom missed opening day at Quabbin Reservoir. They made many trips in their truck camper across New England as well as Canada, including several visits to Nova Scotia, as far north as Lac Mistassini to fish for record brook trout, and special times with their grandchildren on their mountainside meadow in Vermont. They drove across the country, exploring national parks, fishing the Rogue River and visiting friends and family. At 54, Henry joined friends and canoed hundreds of miles of the Sheenjek River, north of the Alaskan Yukon. After raising their family in Somers, Henry and Jean built their cozy retirement home in Woodstock where they hiked with their dogs, fished, watched wildlife, and competed to see who worked harder in retirement. Their door was always open to family and their ever-growing group of friends, as anyone who happened down their road was welcomed inside for coffee, a slice of Jeannie's famous pie, and warm conversation.

Henry was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and served as a signalman on board a destroyer in the Pacific. After his service, he became an expert carpenter, building custom houses while forging lifelong friendships with many customers. He was a meticulous craftsman; never content with "good enough," Henry believed in making things as near to perfect as possible. Henry worked hard because things needed to be done, but also because work is its own reward. And though his own projects were more than enough to keep anyone busy, he generously shared his time and skills – from helping fix a roof or build wood-duck boxes, to guiding friends in building their own mountaintop camps or seaside cottages. Even toward the end, he continued to teach his craft; one of his doctors related how Henry gave him the confidence to tackle his own door installation by explaining the procedure in detail.

Henry will be also lovingly remembered for helping with life's greatest challenges, caring for friends stricken with cancer and helping loved ones endure the pain of tragic loss. When times were hard, Henry was there, steadfastly doing what was needed to ease the burden. Through it all, he liked a good laugh, and his good-natured teasing showed he liked you and made you believe you could endure the tough spots.

In addition to his beautiful bride, Henry will be deeply missed by his children: Cheri & husband Bill Huber, Bob & wife Debbie Bugden, and Wayne Bugden & wife Nancy Freeman-Bugden; his grandchildren: Samantha & husband Jason Piette, Erin Bugden, Tim Bugden & partner Jenn Martinez, John Bugden & partner Kelly Mark, Billy Freeman, and Brian Freeman & fiancée Abby McCarthy; great-grandchildren Benjamin Piette, Caroline Piette, and Ariana Roy; his sister Florence Stroiney, and many nieces, nephews, and friends. He was predeceased by brothers William Bugden and Benjamin Bugden; sisters Mary Dewey, Bertha Pitney, Rose Quagliaroli, and Grace Bugden; and great-granddaughter, Alice Piette.

At the family's request, there will be no services. A gathering to celebrate Henry's life will be announced next spring. In lieu of flowers, donations in Henry's memory can be made to the Alzheimer's Association (www.alz.org) or to Ducks Unlimited www.ducks.org. Online condolences and memories can be shared at www.leetestevens.com.