Joseph John Glowacki

Joseph John Glowacki, 88, of West Hartford, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on January 4, 2026.
Our family called him the "Patriarch" and just "Dad", he was the glue and a force beyond measure. Everyone he met became his friend for life. His family and friends literally included hundreds, but the four of us had the special honor of calling him Dad.
Joseph is survived by his four children, Joseph and his wife Laura of The Woodlands, TX, Douglas and his wife Heidi of Avon, CT, Christopher of Farmington, CT, Shari and her husband Stanley of Hernando, FL; and his sister-in-law, Virginia Ekman of West Haven, CT. Joseph is also survived by his cherished grandchildren, Cameron, Nicholas, Colin, Caroline, and Catherine Glowacki. He was predeceased by his parents, his brothers and sisters, and his late wife Beverly.
Joseph graduated from Hall High School in 1956, served his country in the US Army 55th Field Artillery, and began his career as a West Hartford Police Officer in 1960. He started as a patrolman and rose quickly to detective. He was instrumental in helping solve the Jewish Temple fires of 1985, working closely with the Fire Department and the FBI. Joseph went back to school to become an Arson Investigator in 1982. After his retirement in 1986, he was a founding member of the West Harford Retired Police Officer Association and served as its Vice President. Joseph went back to work as an Arson Investigator and Fraud Specialist with Travelers for 13 years. He finished his working career as a crossing guard for seven years at the corner of Oakwood and Seymour in West Hartford, parking his Cadillac at Kennedy Park with his companion "Dirty Dog" by his side.
We have not even scratched the surface of Joseph's life. He was also a jokester, coach, mentor, bad golfer, card player, friend to all, amazing father, philanthropist, and faithful follower of the Catholic Church. We can only hope to live half the life that Dad led.
A special heartfelt thank you his caretaker Nana Darko, the staff at St. James Court and St. Francis Hospital.
Calling hours will be Wednesday, January 7, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Sheehan Hilborn Breen Funeral Home, 1084 New Britain Ave, West Hartford. A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 8, at St. Brigid Church, directly across the street from the funeral home. Family and friends may gather at 9:00 a.m. at the funeral home. Interment will follow at Rose Hill Memorial Park, Rocky Hill.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Joseph's name may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude’s Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Online condolences may be made at www.SheehanHilbornBreen.com