Joseph R. McCormick

JOSEPH R. McCORMICK, 101, passed away peacefully on February 13, 2014 after a short illness. He was a resident of Stuart, Florida. His former home was his birthplace, Bloomfield, Connecticut. He was the son of John and Helen (Francis) McCormick, a Bloomfield family in the tobacco growing business. Over a long time span, "Joe" excelled in every field he entered--truly a Renaissance Man. In sports, he lettered in soccer, basketball and track at Bloomfield High School. He became one of the Iron Men of UConn's football team as offensive halfback and defensive end, and held records in several sprinting events on the UConn track team. On the golf course, at the age of 95, he shot his age. A recipient of the National Football Foundation's Distinguished American Award, he was honored by UConn during a timeout on Rentschler Field in 2003, to the fans' shouts of "Go Joe, Go Joe." He was a lifelong fan of UConn sports. An ROTC graduate, he began active duty in the U. S. Army in 1941. During World War II he commanded amphibious training for 170,000 troops in the Pacific Theater of Operations, participated in the invasion of the Philippines and served as a member of General Douglas MacArthur's staff. He was called back to active duty during the Korean Conflict between 1950 and 1952, and retired from the active reserve as a Brigadier General in 1967, having earned three Battle Stars and a Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster. In 1934 Joe joined the Hartford Electric Light Company from which he retired in 1977 as President, CEO and Director. He served as a director of ten corporate boards, including Hartford National Bank, Western Pacific Industries and various trade groups, including the National Association of Electric Companies. Joe was an active leader of dozens of local, state and national organizations including the Connecticut State Chamber of Commerce, Connecticut Educational Television Corporation, the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, The Greater Hartford Arts Council and the Metropolitan District Commission where he acted as Chairman of its Water Bureau and Finance Committees. In the field of education, he served as a Trustee of UConn and St. Joseph's College and as a Regent of the University of Hartford. Above all, he was devoted to family: a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He was married to Ruth Harris for 54 years until her death in 1991. He leaves two children, Paul McCormick of North Stonington, CT and Anne "Myck" Williams and husband Mark Williams of West Granby, eight grandchildren and their spouses (Susan "Perrin" and Jamie Menashi, Michael and Adriana McCormick, Adam and Kristen Williams, Amy and Alex Lunding, Benjamin and Kelley Williams, Taegan, Kaily and Quincy Williams) and five great grandchildren (Caitlin and Ryan Williams, Tristan and Kyla Lunding and Sofia McCormick). He also leaves his beloved companion and good friend of many years, Sally Clemence. Calling hours will be held on Sunday, February 16th from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at Molloy Funeral Home, 906 Farmington Avenue, West Hartford, CT. A celebration Mass will be said at the Church of Saint Timothy, 1116 North Main Street, West Hartford, CT on Monday, February 17th at 11:00 a.m. Burial will be held at the convenience of the family. Online expressions of sympathy may be made at www.molloyfuneralhome.com