Anthony William "Chip" Jessuck Jr.

Waterford - It is with deep sorrow and much love that we mourn the peaceful passing of Anthony William "Chip" Jessuck Jr., 52, of Waterford, on Oct. 15, 2021.

He will forever be remembered by his wife Christina Jessuck; his children, John Pellegrino, Anna Pellegrino, Anthony H. Jessuck, Charlotte Jessuck and Paige Jessuck; parents, Anthony and Paula Jessuck; brother Gregory Dziczek; sister Melissa Guarnieri; nephew Enzo Guarnieri; and an extended family of loving aunts, uncles, cousins, and devoted friends. He was predeceased by his beloved grandparents, Stephen and Anna Jessuck, and Biagio and Viola Bonanno, with whom he shared a special bond. He also leaves behind his faithful feline companions Basil and Colby Jax.

Chip attended Great Neck Elementary School in Waterford and graduated in 1987 from St. Bernard High School in Uncasville. He then went on to Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Fla., where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance in 1999. Upon graduation he was employed at Lincoln Financial Advisors in Boca Raton, Fla. He returned to Connecticut to work for Prudential Insurance and began his career as a Financial Advisor at A.G. Edwards, and then Wells Fargo in Mystic. In 2018 he joined Janney Montgomery Scott in Mystic, as Vice President of Investments. Chip was blessed to have a love for his life's work and was a trusted and respected advisor.

A member of Waterford Republicans, Chip was a valued and active participant in local government and charitable organizations. He was elected to Waterford's Board of Finance and served for 7 years where he was also the Liaison to the Waterford Police Department. He was a former member of the Rotary Club of New London as well as the Board of Directors for the James A. Greenleaf Jr. Foundation. Chip was a sponsor of the Eastern Connecticut School of Ballet and the Great Neck Elementary School's Great Strides Road Race for many years and was deeply ingrained in the fabric of his community. He was a member of Club East Colfax and participated in two Tour de Force 200-mile charity bicycle rides to honor the victims of 9/11 and to also raise funds for the families of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.

Chip was a lover of sports, through and through. As a child, he played Waterford Little League Baseball and Youth Basketball. He played football at St. Bernard High School. During his college years in Florida, he competed in professional bodybuilding tournaments. He trained in Choung Nue, an ancient form of martial arts. When he returned to Connecticut, he competed in half-marathons and Olympic and Sprint triathlons. Chip loved college football and made the dream trek to South Bend, Indiana to see Notre Dame football games with his boys. He enjoyed yoga classes, watching NASCAR races, and cheering on the Red Sox with his children. He was an avid and lifelong Pittsburgh Steeler fan.

With his love of sports, he helped not only his own children but also countless others with this love of the game. A volunteer for Waterford Little League for over 13 years, Chip coached baseball and softball and functioned as Little League Treasurer for three years. He also coached Waterford Youth Football and Waterford Recreational Girls Basketball. Chip was a sponsor for Waterford Babe Ruth and the Preston Girls Softball League's Play for the Cure and was hoping to bring Play for the Cure to Waterford. He enjoyed not only coaching but teaching the players lessons they could use in life.

Christina Jessuck was the love of Chip's life, and they were married for seventeen years. They built a beautiful family, and together they were always ready for a holiday celebration, a Super Bowl party, an impromptu gathering, a family get together and a delicious meal. Like his grandparents Chip was very patriotic. He installed a full-sized flagpole in the front yard of their home and even held a flag-raising ceremony the first time he hoisted the American flag. Chip loved nothing more than a cup of early morning coffee accompanied by The Day newspaper, Region section first. He enjoyed taking care of people and being at home with his family. He cherished his time spent vacationing on the beach with friends and family in Hatteras, N.C. He was blessed with very dear friends from both his early childhood days with whom he shared priceless memories and escapades, in addition to friends from the present day. Chip's friends meant the world to him as they embraced him and assisted his family during the difficult journey of these past two years.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 21, at Thomas L. Neilan & Sons Funeral Home, 48 Grand Street in Niantic. A funeral Mass will take place at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 22, at Saint Paul in Chains, 140 Rope Ferry Road, Waterford. Burial will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery, 600 Jefferson Avenue, New London.

Memorial donations may be made to the Cactus Jack Foundation, P.O. Box 145, Waterford, CT 06385, or to the Connecticut Humane Society, 169 Old Colchester Road, Quaker Hill, CT 06375. A joint Celebration of Chip's life and fundraiser for the Cactus Jack Foundation is planned for early 2022.

Condolences may be shared on Chip's memorial page at www.neilanfuneralhome.com.