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Edmund Gubbins Obituary
Born April 14, 1925, he was the son of the late John and Bridget (Walsh) McCaffrey and was later adopted by the late Jim and Nora Gubbins. Dr. Gubbins graduated in the 1938 class from the Assumption School and graduated from the Ansonia High School in 1942. Honorably discharged from the U.S. Air Force in 1945. A member of the first graduating class of Fairfield University in 1951. Earned his Doctorate of Education from the University of Sarasota, Fla., in 1977. Dr. Gubbins worked as a teacher in the Ansonia school system, vice principal of the Ansonia High School, superintendent of the East Haddam School system and also director of education for the CT Department of Correction, from which he retired.
Dr. Gubbins had a deep passion for the Democratic Party. His political accomplishments included alderman of Ansonia's 5th ward, six terms as selectman for the Town of East Haddam, president of the East Haddam Rotary Club, vice president of the Middlesex Chamber of Commerce. He was also a member of the Governor's Advisory Council for Vocational and Career Education. Dr. Gubbins on many occasions returned to his beloved Ireland to visit relatives in New Ross and tour the countryside. He was a communicant of St. Bridget of Kildare Church.
Dr. Gubbins is survived by daughters Laureen (Jim) Gibb, Colleen (Kevin) Foley and Patricia Blaschik, son Edmund J. Gubbins Jr. of East Haddam, sister Marguerite Bentham of Suffield, grandchildren Kathleen, Noreen and Meghan Blaschik, Edmund Gubbins Ill and Chelsea Gubbins and great-grandson Kevin Wade.
He was predeceased by sister Marion Sexton and brother John Moran.
Calling hours will be held on Friday, Sept. 9, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Biega Funeral Home, 3 Silver St., Middletown. A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Saturday, Sept. 10, at 10 a.m. at St. Bridget Church, Moodus, with the family receiving guests prior to Mass. Burial will be in St. Bridget Cemetery following the Mass.
Bennett Funeral Home, 91 N. Cliff St., Ansonia, is assisting with the funeral arrangements. We thank the staff of Chestelm Health and Rehabilitation Center and Vista Innovative Hospice Care for the wonderful treatment and support our father and family received.
Please sign the Guest Book at RememberingCT.us/middletownpress.
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Memories and Condolences
for Edmund Gubbins
Dean Markham
August 31, 2020
Ed was a dear friend and unwavering supporter. What we all should remember is his loyalty and above all his optimism. It was never it can't be done, but rather lets figure a way and get it done for the good of all.
Dr. Edmund J. Gubbins
March 18, 2019
Ed Gubbins
September 18, 2011
Eulogy for Edmund J Gubbins
My family and I would like to thank all our friends for coming out to celebrate my Father’s life today. He was a generous, friendly and accomplished man, filled with a great sense of humor. He leaves behind a loving family and many friends.
My father entered into this world on April 14, 1925, the youngest of 4 children born to Bridget and John McCaffrey. Years before, Bridget Walsh immigrated from Ireland and worked as an indentured servant until she met and married John McCaffrey, a successful engineer. They were blessed with four children: John, Margarite (Peg), Marian and Edmund. After giving birth to my father, his mother’s appendix burst, and with medical technology being what it was at that time, she died shortly after his birth. John McCaffrey provided for his children, however he too met an untimely death two years later. The children were placed in an orphanage in New Haven. Eventually, young John was adopted by the Moran family from Oxford, Marian was adopted by the Sexton family in Ansonia, and Peg was adopted by Jim and Nora Gubbins in Ansonia. My father remained in the orphanage for a prolonged length of time, and it was at his sister Peg’s insistence that he was finally brought to live with the Gubbins’ , He was 7. He was brought in as a ward of the state so the family received payment from the state for his care. This was during the depression days, so every little bit helped.
My Father enjoyed recounting stories of his youth, growing up on Derby Hill. It was an Irish enclave in Ansonia, and he was intensely proud of his Irish Heritage. This close knit neighborhood bred his commitment to community service that followed him throughout his life. He loved to tell stories of being sent to the store by the neighborhood women to pickup groceries for them.. Hafies was the store. And he marveled that if he jumped over hedges up the road, his parents knew it by the time he reached the door ... and he suffered for it... but he loved that Derby Hill. We heard about it until the day he died. That sense of family and community stayed with him.. By all accounts of his friends I spoke to, my Dad was a serious kid and a very hard working, driven man. The money he would make during his childhood would be turned over to his mother to help support the family. He worked hard and did well in school. He held tight to his deep religious roots. I can honestly say, I never heard my father swear.. never... He was an altar boy at the Assumption Church until he enlisted in the Air Force in 1942. He said he blessed many beads at that church.. Much to the dismay of the parish priests... After he enlisted, the Gubbins’ officially adopted my Father as their son.
My Dad served in the Air Force during World War II until 1945 when he was honorably discharged from service. He would recount stories of flying training missions from the base in Massachusetts. Young men, the oldest was 21.. flying a B-52 on training.. they would find and fly the thing over each other’s houses... My dad was 17.. he said they would fly up main street in Ansonia and pretend to bomb the Farrell’s brass factory... Waving to people as they went over the town.. His favorite story was that he was the US’s secret weapon.. After all his training, he was finally scheduled to deploy to Europe. When they were on their way, flying over the Atlantic, they got word that Germany had surrendered and were ordered back to the states. He underwent more training to be deployed to the Pacific Campaign. On the way out to Hawaii, they received word that Japan had surrendered and were turned around again.. so he figures the United States owes him a great debt of gratitude-- that both countries surrendered rather than to suffer his wrath.. I used to tell him they would have done anything to keep him out of their country..
During one of his leaves, he won $300 in a card game on the train home. He bought his beloved 1933 Essex Terraplane with that money.. It was by far his favorite car, and it carried him all the way through college.
Not long after returning home from the service, my Dad met my Mother. He would recount the story of seeing her at the Soda Shop in the center of town. He asked his buddy, Al Cox who she was. He was introduced to her and was very smitten. Later, when he was leaving in his Terraplane, he accidently took the wrong turn and ended up in front of the shop. Just then, Kathleen was coming out of the shop and was standing at the curb. He stopped and asked her if she would like a ride home. He wasn’t sure if it was the nice car or him, but she hopped in, and that started their life long loving partnership. There was never any question that my father loved my mother. He loved her up to the day he died.
My parents were married in September of 1951, after my father’s graduation from the first graduating class of Fairfield University. My Father took care of his parents during their final years, and my Mom and he started their family right away. He and my mother had 3 beautiful daughters, Laurie, Colleen and Patty. They eventually moved away from the Irish enclave to the Protestant side of town, as my Dad used to call Wakelee Avenue.. and was very proud that he bought the Wakelee house. Mr Wakelee had built most of the houses on the street. I was born while the family was living there. During this time, my father worked his way from teacher to Vice Principal of the junior high school then to principal of Peck High school. In 1963 my Dad was hired as the superintendent of the East Haddam School System, and he moved the family up here to East Haddam. My Father was always challenging himself to better himself and to be successful. I have so much respect for him.
My Dad also loved politics, as many of you here know. He was an Alderman in Ansonia, he spent 12 years as Selectman here in East Haddam, he was on many boards and served his community throughout his life. He continued to be active in politics throughout his lifetime, whether as a candidate or as an avid supported of the Democratic Party.
My Dad eventually retired from the State of CT as the Director of Education for the Dept of Correction. His greatest achievement was creating the first Unified School District for the State Correctional System. He was invited all around the United States to help other states replicate this example.
After retirement, if you can call it that, he worked at Becket Academy, the Middlesex Chamber of Commerce, and Middlesex Community College, along with teaching college courses at University of New Haven and Fairfield University.
My Father was the ultimate success story. From the meager beginnings in an orphanage to the successful, respected intellectual he became. A self-made man, he had a great life, an interesting life, with a beautiful partner, Kathleen, and 4 loving children.. He was blessed with 5 grand children, Katie, Noreen, Meghan, Chelsea and Eddie the third, and one great-grandson Kevin.
In 1999 my Father’s world began to fall apart. My Mother died that year, and he lost his lifetime partner. We could tell life would never be the same for my him. He just wasn’t the same. He became forgetful and seemed lost. We thought this must be from losing Mom, but soon we found that he was suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease. It’s a terrible disease that robs you of your life, but my Dad fought it valiantly with his stubbornness and sense of humor. Thankfully he was able to remain in his own house until his final few months of life. I’m grateful that I spent a lot of time with my Dad during these last years. Although he couldn’t tell you what he was watching on TV, he could tell you stories from years ago, stories that he would tell over, and over, and over... I treasure those stories.. some of them I recounted here for you today... I wish I had time to tell you more, to tell you how proud I am of my Father, To tell you what a good, honest Man he was, Driven by his ideals and staunchly religious.. I wish I was half the man he is..
I miss you Dad. and I love you.
May the road rise up to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the sun shine warm on your face and the rains fall soft upon your fields
Until we meet again
May God hold you in the palm of his hand
September 13, 2011
Dear Laurie and Colleen, so sorry to hear about the passing of your dad. May your memories of him be cherished forever. With deepest sympathy.
Marina
Lisa McNulty
September 9, 2011
Patty and family I am so sorry for your loss. You will all be in my thoughts and prayers.
cynthia hudson
September 9, 2011
LAURIE,COLLEEN iwas sorry to hear about the passing of your father ,may god bless and comfort your during this trying and difficult time ,cynthiha hudson
Tom Clifford
September 8, 2011
To Ed's Family:
Please accept my heartfelt sympathy on your loss. I had the pleasure of meeting Ed at many social and political events including state conventions during my terms as mayor of Ansonia. He left an indelible mark at AHS during his years there as Asst. Principal and upon his native city. He never forgot his roots. We were sad to see him leave. He was blessed with a full, rich life. May his love for you comfort you in the days and weeks ahead.
Sincerely,
Mitch & Annette Ward
September 8, 2011
Laurie, Colleen, and Family,
Our throughts, prayers,and sympathy are with you today and the days to come. Be strong in the Lord.
Jimmy, Linda, Nicole & Gina (Virgadula) Waller
September 8, 2011
Ed and Family,
We are so sorry to hear about the loss of your dad. You and your family are in our hearts and prayers during this difficult time.
September 7, 2011
Colleen, we are sorry about your dad. He was a wonderful man. He was lucky to have such a great, caring daughter like you. You are in our thoughts....Beth, Jay, and Jill Abbey Middletown, Ct.
September 7, 2011
Ed, sorry to hear of your dads passing.God bless.. sincerely, maureen yonkauski
Dean Markham
September 7, 2011
Ed,Laurie, Colleen & Patti - My sincerest condolences on the passing of your Dad. He was a wonderful friend and one of my political mentors. He had a great smile and sense of humor and had the admirable trait of being able to say something nice about his biggest opponent or enemy - not that he had many of those. Your Dad had a great view of life and never settled on solving a problem, issue or situation with a simple no it couldn't be done. He rather sought ways to do and accomplish what others would simply dismiss as not doable. He will be missed, but his legacy will live on.
Lora Castronova
September 7, 2011
My condolences to Ed, Laurie, Colleen, and Patti on the loss of your dad, I'm sure your your mom was waiing for him. Also sympathies to all the grandkids, Eddie, Chelsea, Meghan, Katie and Noreen for the loss of their grandpa.
Maryjane (Parkus) Malavasi
September 7, 2011
My thoughts and prayers are with all of you during this difficult time.
Bridget,Rick, Celia & Spencer (Moran)O'Doy
September 7, 2011
Our thoughts and prayers are with our cousins & their families at this sad time. May each of you find peace as your hearts heal. With love, Bridget, Rick, Celia & Spencer (Moran)O'Doy of Oxford, CT
Patty & Ed Veselak
September 7, 2011
Dear Patty, Meghan, Noreen & Katie
Sorry to hear about your dad and grandpa. Just wanted you to know you are in our thoughts and prayers.
Colleen Mills
September 7, 2011
Laurie, Col and Family,
My deepest condolences to you and your families on the loss of your Dad. He's with your mom now. My thoughts and prayers are with you now and in the days ahead.
James Murdoch
September 7, 2011
It was an honor and a privilege to have known Dr Gubbins.
My condolences and deepest sympathy to Ed and the extended Gubbins family.
Janice Williams
September 7, 2011
Laureen and Colleen and family, sincere sympathy to you all,you are in my prayers.......Jan Williams and family
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