Sigurd Jensen

JENSEN, SIGURD A. Sigurd A. Jensen, 76, of North Haven, passed away on Wednesday, April 9, 2014, at Hamden Health Care Center. He was the beloved husband and best friend of Linda Lawrence Jensen. Son of the late Victor and Ailleen Jensen, he was born in New Haven, CT but grew up in Laconia, NH, graduating from Laconia High School, Class of 1956. He worked for 17 years in summer stock at the former Lakes Region Playhouse, Guilford, NH and received his BFA and MFA in Dramatic Art from the University of South Dakota, with additional graduate work at Penn State University. Sig was a Professor Emeritus of Theatre at Southern Connecticut State University, where he taught theatre classes in addition to being technical director and lighting designer for 30 years before retiring in 1998 as Theatre Department Chairman. He was a lifelong member of the New England Theater Conference, serving in various positions, including NETC president, convention chair and head of multiple committees. Because of his dedication to promoting theatre throughout New England, the American College Theatre Festival awarded a Kennedy Center Medallion for Lifetime Achievement to Sig in 1998. Sig enjoyed being outdoors, working in his yard and vegetable garden and sharing the company of friends by the shore at Owenego Beach Club. In addition to his wife, he is survived by and most proud of his two children: Jon Jensen (Cindy Olsen) of Scituate, MA and Kristina Coppola of Branford. The joys of his life were his grandchildren: Sophia, Sam and Lily Coppola. He also leaves behind brothers and sisters-in-law: Bob (Kathy) Lawrence; Nancy (Bill) Bartolotta; Betty (Jim) McManus; Chris (Lucy) Lawrence; Loretta (Jack) Anthony; and friends who all supported Sig and his family in his Alzheimer’s journey (especially in his final days), in addition to many nieces and nephews who knew him as “Uncle Sig.” Relatives and friends are invited to go directly to St. Therese Church, Wednesday morning at 10:00 for a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment will be private and at the convenience of the family. The visiting hours will be Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m. Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, CT Chapter, 2075 Silas Deane Highway, Suite 100, Rocky Hill, CT 06067. www.northhavenfuneral.com