Jeremiah Joseph O'Sullivan

1932 - 2017

Jeremiah Joseph O'Sullivan of Torrington and Harwinton, CT, 85, passed away peacefully on August 16, 2017 surrounded by his family at Hartford Hospital. Jerry was born on May 15, 1932 in New York, New York to the late Timothy and Margaret (Crowley) O'Sullivan, who had both emigrated from County Cork, Ireland. While in New York, he graduated from Cardinal Hayes High School, served his country in the army during the Korean War era, and later married the absolute love of his life, Mary Ann McClean. The two eventually settled in Torrington, CT in 1972 and raised three wonderful children: Maura, Timothy, and Jeremiah. On moving to Torrington, Jerry and Mary Ann purchased a small business, Fire Equipment Headquarters, where he served as President Emeritus. Jerry retired from full-time work in 1997, but continued to remain active in the company until his passing. Fire Equipment Headquarters remains a local and productive family-owned business to this day. Jerry had many proud accomplishments throughout his life, but his biggest claim to fame was graduating Summa Cum Laude from the official L.L. Bean Fly Fishing School. Other awards and honors included receiving a citation from the City of Torrington for saving the life of a young girl who fell through the ice on the Naugatuck River. He was also President of the Torrington Rotary Club, where his shining accomplishment was establishing a bone marrow transfer drive. He was also long-time member of the Torrington Elks Club, and served as a Justice of the Peace. His one bucket list item which he achieved this summer was to take his entire family to visit Ireland, where he was welcomed by his relatives with open arms and joyfully reunited his family from both sides of the Atlantic. Jerry also had an endless array of jokes, and was a king of telling one liners. His wife, Mary Ann, eventually grew weary of hearing the jocular punchlines, and had Jerry refer to each joke by number rather than repeat them. One joke, in particular, pertained to a gorilla. Only Mary Ann knows this joke, and she most-likely won't repeat it. He was also a voracious reader, lover of poetry, and student of military history. In addition to his beloved wife, Jerry leaves behind his daughter Maura Malo and son-in-law Stephen Malo of Litchfield, CT, son Timothy O'Sullivan and daughter-in-law Doreen O'Sullivan of Harwinton, CT, and son Jeremiah O'Sullivan and daughter-in-law Jennifer O'Sullivan of Santa Monica, CA. He also leaves behind six loving grandchildren: Molly and Colleen Malo, Timothy Jr., Liam, and Patrick O'Sullivan, and Caroline O'Sullivan. He also leaves behind his brother John O'Sullivan and his wife, Joanne of South Plainfield, NJ, along with many loving cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. Burial services include a wake at Phalen Funeral Home, 285 Migeon Avenue, in Torrington, CT on August 18, 2017 from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. A funeral in his honor will take place at St. Thomas of Villanova Church, 71 North Street, in Goshen, CT on Saturday August 19, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can made to the following: FISH in Torrington (332 South Main Street, Torrington, CT 06790), The Kenya Project ?The Sisters of St. Francis (201 Reist Street, Williamsville, NY 14221), or Team Superman, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (101 Centerpoint Drive, Suite 107, Middletown, CT 06457). www.phalenfuneral.com