Stephen G.J LONG

LONG, Stephen G.J.

Stephen G.J. Long, 84, beloved husband of Clare (Carrigan) Long went to be with the Lord after a long battle with cancer on Friday (March 9, 2012) at home with his wife and family by his side. Steve was born May 25, 1927 in Brooklyn, New York. He was a graduate of the Merchant Marine Academy at Fort Schuyler. After graduation he went to work for Gulf Oil and during the Korean War joined the Navy serving on the USS Dixie (AO-14) and the USS Chemung (AO-30). He joined to travel the world but never saw any of it, because he was always in the engine room where he loved to be. While the ship was in dock in Mare Island Naval Ship Yard, California for repairs he met Ensign Clare Carrigan when she bought his car. He had to make sure she knew how to drive it so they married in Feb 1955 and remained together happily for these 57 years. He was an employee of Combustion Engineering in Chicago who transferred him to their Windsor Locks plant. They found a home in West Hartford and have lived there since 1960. He later went to work for the J.M. NEY Company in Bloomfield and eventually became the Vice President of the American Chemical and Refining Company in Waterbury. After the stress of that job, he retired to sell exercise equipment at the Nordic Trak store in Westfarms Mall. He was a member of the congregation of St. Thomas the Apostle Church in West Hartford where he served as a Eucharistic Minister. Aside from his family, Steve's greatest love was the sea and sailing. Steve is survived by his 5 children; Steve Long Jr. of West Hartford, Phillip Long and his wife Denise of Cuyahoga Falls, OH., Clare C. Long and her husband Rodney Wilson of Center Conway, NH, Jack Long and his wife Laurie Beasley of Bristol, and Nancy Propfe and her husband Peter of New Hartford. He is also survived by his brothers Bernard Long and wife Marion, Ralph Long and his wife Helen, Charles Long and wife Peggy and Gerald Long and his wife Judy, as well as 10 grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Stephen and Anne Long, he was predeceased by his brother Father John Long, SJ and sister Lorraine Roell.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday March 14, 2012 at 10 a.m. at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 872 Farmington Avenue, West Hartford. Burial will be private. Friends and family may call Tuesday, March 13, 2012 from 4-7 p.m. at The Molloy Funeral Home, 906 Farmington Avenue, West Hartford. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or Sail CT Access Program, 1 Riverside Court, Guilford CT 06437. To leave on line condolences please visit www.molloyfuneralhome.com. The family thanks the nurses and staff of VITAS Hospice and the wonderful women of Polish Helping Hands for the kind care given to Steve.