Joseph F. Peak

Joseph F. Peak peacefully passed away on February 21, 2024, at his current home in Suffield, CT at the age of 71. He was born to Joseph and Elizabeth (Hartnett) Peak on November 12, 1952, in Hartford, Ct. and grew up on a farm on Old Main St, South Windsor.
He graduated from East Catholic High School, Class of 1970 in Manchester, CT., and received a degree in Finance from Nichols College, Class of 1974. Joe lived his adult life primarily in West Hartford and Marlborough CT, and more recently in Charlton MA, Suffield CT, and New Smyrna Beach Fla.
Joe enjoyed playing and coaching basketball, golf (sometimes), watching UConn Men and Women's Basketball, traveling throughout the world with "the South Windsor Crowd", entertaining his family and friends either on the lakes in Marlborough or Charlton, or the ocean and intracoastal canals of New Smyrna Beach. But most of all he loved his children Brian and Jen, his grandchildren Corey and Kayla, and his wife of 27 years, Shirley.
Joe worked 41 years in the insurance industry primarily as a Commercial Underwriting Manager at The Hartford and a Partner/Senior Vice President at RC Knox and Peoples United Insurance.
He is survived by his wife Shirley (Yonika) Peak, his son, Brian of South Windsor, daughter, Jennifer Peak-Smith and her husband Dave of Wilbraham Mass., siblings: Patricia McIlduff and her husband, Dr. John McIlduff, Kahleen Peak, and Doreen Lauck. His cousins; Tina Bettera and Mary Ellen Fillo, and several nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind special friends Steve Case, John Willsey, Tom McNally, Jim Dee, Jack Hull and Pete Gimmartino and the entire Yonika family. He was predeceased by his sister Barbara Henzy and Cousin John Peretta.
Joe will be remembered for his "can do" attitude, aka stubbornness, both frugality and generosity, sense of humor, bad jokes and fun-loving ways, attention to detail, strong opinions and empathy, but mostly for the love he gave and received. (Please note that dancing skill was not mentioned.)
Very special thanks to his sister Doreen Lauck, Pat and John McIlduff, and Maria and Bruce for their medical insight and support, and Robin and Jim Ley for keeping the fridge and cabinets filled and keeping Shirley as calm as she could be.
All are welcome to join his family at the Samsel & Carmon Funeral Home, 419 Buckland Road in South Windsor on Saturday, March 2, 2024, for calling hours from 2-4 pm with a service at 4 pm at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, give generously your time or donations to a cause you care most about. To leave a condolence, please visit www.carmonfuneralhome.com