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Joseph Hackett Obituary
Cpt. Joseph R. Hackett – USAF and Eastern Air Lines Pilot
Cpt. Joseph Raphael Hackett, Jr., 85, of Saratoga Springs, NY, formerly of Ridgefield, CT, flew home on Saturday, April 30, 2016. A long-time pilot for Eastern Air Lines, his late wife Maureen (Durkin) Hackett and their youngest daughter Christine Hackett were waiting for him at his final gate.
The only son of Joseph R. Hackett, Sr. and Josephine (Wagenknecht) Hackett, Cpt. Hackett's journey began on April 5, 1931 in Oceanside. He attended St. Christopher's Elementary School in Baldwin and graduated from Baldwin High School in 1949.
Working as a Good Humor Man, he put himself through Fordham University, where he was a member of the Fordham Glee Club and Fordham's Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps.
Cpt. Hackett earned his Air Force wings in 1954 – the same year he married Maureen, a model and Copa Cabana dancer. He served in the United States and Europe, where he was a member of the 60th Troop Carrier Group based at Rhein-Main Air Base.
After Cpt. Hackett left the Air Force, he and Maureen moved to Ridgefield where they lived for 33 years. That same year, Cpt. Hackett became a pilot with Eastern Air Lines, which he flew for with great pride for 31 years.
If you flew Eastern's LaGuardia to Boston shuttle between 1967-1988, you most likely were a passenger of Cpt. Hackett. Among the notable travelers he flew were: Martin Luther King, Jr., Cassius Clay, Neil Armstrong, Jacqueline Kennedy, Senators Robert and Ted Kennedy, Walter Cronkite, and The Supremes.
After Cpt. Hackett retired from Eastern in 1988 he served as an Air Carrier Operations Inspector for the Federal Aviation Administration, based in Puerto Rico, until 1993.
From the Adirondack mountains, to the coast of France, he had a love of traveling. His other residences included: Lake Placid, Staten Island, and Lido Beach, NY, Duck, NC, Indio, CA and Palmas Del Mar, PR.
Cpt. Hackett will be greatly missed by his two surviving daughters: Dawn (Hackett) Miner and husband, Gregory, of Shushan, NY and Mary Therese "Trez" (Hackett) Cedrone and husband, Victor, of MD and son Brian Hackett and wife, Grace, of Baldwin.
He is also survived by seven grandchildren: Caurie Putnam-Ferguson, Stephanie Dana, Erica Haraldsen, Kathryn Miner, Christopher Miner, Brian Hackett, Jr. and William Hackett, his six great-grandchildren: Brice and Brady Putnam, Ryan and Andrew Dana, and Dylan and Shelby Haraldsen, brother in-laws Jack (Patricia) Durkin, Martin Durkin, nephews, nieces and cousins.
Cpt. Hackett was predeceased by his parents, wife Maureen, daughter Christine, and his sister Mary Hackett.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, May 6, 2016 at 1:15 AM at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, Ridgefield. Interment will take place immediately following at St. Mary's Cemetery.
Friends will be received on Thursday, May 5, 2016 from 4:00 to 8:00 PM at Kane Funeral Home, Ridgefield.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Fordham Fund in memory of Cpt. Joseph R. Hackett http://www.fordham.edu/info/20059/g
ive
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Joseph Hackett
May 6, 2016
Sending my sympathies to you Dawn, and family for the lost of your extraordinary father. Take comfort in his memories and legacies in all of you.
~Maria Pia
Joan & Jim Reino
May 5, 2016
We were friends at Ship's Watch. They were good to us-friendly and caring. One day when we had to head back home in a torrential rain storm they had us stay over night with them at the Waters home. Thank you Joe & Mo for being such nice thoughtful people.
Bill Van Deinse
May 4, 2016
Dear Hackett Family,
Sincerest Sympathy to Joe's family. He was a respected co-worker at Eastern when I worked there in the 70's & 80's. He was a good man & I am sorry to hear of his passing.
May 2, 2016
Sincere condolences goes out to the Hackett family for your sad loss. May GOD be with the family as you mourn your loss.
Betsy Burke
May 2, 2016
So sorry for your loss. Joe came when my car wouldn't start & I had to go to the vet. He also came when the basement flooded. He not only brought a pump but set it up himself because he knew I would electrocute myself. Love Betsy
May 2, 2016
My sincere condolences. Find comfort in the God who is close to the brokenhearted.
May 2, 2016
Our thoughts and prayers to The Hackett and extended families. May Cpt. Joe soar on his wings in heaven.
Jeffrey and Greta Miner
Carrieanne Ferguson
May 2, 2016
May you be forever in peace and serenity. A life well lived and an amazing man. Im thankful for the brief time that I got to know him. He will be missed
May 2, 2016
The Staff at Burke & Bussing Funeral Homes extend their deepest sympathy to the Hackett Family.
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