Joseph E. Benedict, Sr.

Winsted:  Joseph Benedict, Sr.:  The fabric of Joe's life is woven with his love of God and country, love of family, his joy of music and his appreciation of beauty in using his hands in lovely landscaping or carpentry creations.  Joe was a lifelong resident of Winsted born at the Winsted Memorial Hospital, September, 1926.  He attended the Gilbert School where he met his high school sweetheart, Marion Hoxie, built their home and raised their two children.  After graduation from high school in 1944, Joe enlisted in the Army Air Corps ROTC until 1946.  In 1946, he was employed with the Gilbert Clock Shop as Production and Inventory Control Manager.  In 1957, he moved to Combustion Engineering from where he retired in 1983.  During the years of 1946 through 1949, Joe had a second job as a piano player with small combos such as the Frankie Icino Band.  The groups would travel to various evening venues from New York State to the Connecticut shoreline.
Joe had wide horticultural interests.  During the sixties, Joe would nurture hybrid T roses on the side bank of the family home.  Their colors were amazing and the fragrance was lovely.  Eventually, Joe and Marion teamed up on their love of beauty and creativity.  Joe grew and cut the budding  roses and Marion would create beautiful arrangements which would be entered in the Riverton Fair.  Joe and Marion always received the Blue Ribbon.  Joe's curiosity and interests branched out to more sophisticated challenges.  These involved splicing different varieties of shrubs together seeing if he could propagate a new plant.  Other enriching challenges entailed a technique of "air layering" to generate new, young plants from older species to longer available for purchase.  One grand success was several small plantings generated from Joe's mother's large deep red rhododendron.  
This interest was carried to the Cape Cod home that Joe and Marion built in 1980.  The soil there was far different and he again enjoyed the challenge of planting shrubs and trees adaptable to that environment.  The Cape home created a wonderful environment for the immediate and extended family to gather every summer.  The families would arrive and immediately jump into the joy only that place provided.  Joe would don his fishing cap, shorts and T-shirt and enjoy the beach escapades provided by the grandchildren.  By the end of the season, Joe's tan rivaled the rest of the family.  Joe and Marion were members of the Cape Cod jazz Society and one of their many pleasures was sitting in the Melody Tent in Hyannis close to the stage to enjoy the entertainment of the musicians, Scott Hamilton and Tony Bennett.
Joe was an enormous fan of the UCONN Women's basketball team and their colorful coach.  He watched all the games and cheered all the players, whose names he knew by heart.
Joe was independent and resilient.  He was compassionate and dearly loved his family.  All his interests required patience, nurture and attention to detail.  His conservative values and work ethic are the guideposts for the family, for he is our standard bearer.
Joe leaves his son, Joseph Benedict, Jr. and grandson, Kyle Benedict of Glenwood Springs, CO; a granddaughter, Amy and husband Stephen Fregoso and great granddaughter, Aspen Humble of Aurora, CO; a daughter, Dale and husband Robert Salmonsen of New London, CT; a granddaughter, Rachel and husband, "Pete" Richards, great grandsons, Bryson and Riley of Montpelier, VT; and granddaughter, Christine DePace of Bristol, CT.
The family is so grateful to Ed Nash, Will and Chris Wexler and the Gabelmann family for the loving, special bond of friendship that so enriched Joe's life.  Also, thank you to Dr. David Lawrence and staff; Dr. James Devaney and staff; and Smilow Cancer Center medical team and staff, especially Dr. Ashita Talsania and Suzanne Hinmann, RN.  Joe's medical care was exemplary and they became our extended family.  Joe's favorite poem can be applied to every aspect of his life.  
                                                           Music was my first love
                                                              and it will be my last
                                                            The music of the future
                                                           and the music of the past
                                                           To live without my music
                                                          Would be impossible to do
                                                      "Cause in this world of troubles
                                                           my music gets me through"
Maloney Funeral Home, 55 Walnut Street, Winsted, CT is handling Joe's arrangements.  Calling hours will be Sunday, May 7, from 2-4 PM.  On Monday, May 8, at 11 AM, the interment procession, with a graveside service will gather at the funeral home.  Also, on Monday, at 1 PM, a celebration of Joe's life, officiated by Pastor Matthew Blazer, will be held at the Covenant Presbyterian Church ("The Barn"), 124 Old Farms Road, Simsbury, CT.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the hospice program of Foothills Visiting Nurse & Home Care, Inc., 32 Union Street, Winsted, CT 06098.  To leave on online condolence, please visit www.maloneyfuneral.com.                                         

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