- Date Of Birth: January 17, 1933
- Date Of Death: August 29, 2022
- State: Connecticut
Our father, Gerard “Jerry” Patton, 89, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather – and much-devoted citizen of Milford – passed away at Connecticut Hospice in Branford on Monday, August 29, 2022 following a long illness.
Jerry was born in Yonkers, NY on January 17, 1933; the youngest of five rambunctious, Irish sons, to the late John Maynard Patton and Mary (Mae) (McCormack) Patton. Upon graduation from high school he enlisted in the United States Coast Guard; after an honorable discharge he married his childhood sweetheart, Barbara (Diane) Doebler, on January 3, 1953.
The Coast Guard may have initially brought them to Connecticut, but they fell in love with the state during the years while Dad studied engineering at UConn. Degree in hand, they moved to Milford in 1959 – where they resided ever more.
To feed his growing family, Dad changed careers and joined Russ Clarke Real Estate in 1965. Russ was a descendant of early Milford settlers, and he became dad’s mentor. Dad developed a deep love for his adopted town while driving it’s streets with Russ, and listening to all the ‘old-timer’ stories Russ had to tell. And, finding his vocation, Dad took over the agency upon Mr. Clarke’s retirement in 1970.
Dad immersed himself in his community, serving with many civic organizations (The Lions Club and Rotary, to name just two). Still inspired by one of his favorite boyhood films, “Mr. Smith Goes To Washington”, he took a path into politics, a path that included a proud five terms representing Milford in the Connecticut General Assembly.
He and his family were proud of many of his accomplishments in the legislature. In particular, inspired by the work of his brother Richie, Dad was able to pass a bill mandating life-saving sprinklers in high rise buildings, hotels and motels, convalescent homes and senior housing projects.
He did take a run at higher office, as a candidate for Congress in 1988. While his campaign fell short, he was proud of the opportunity it provided to meet Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush – one of our family’s treasured mementos is a photo of our parents with George and Barbara taken at the Bush family home in Kennebunkport.
But in many ways Dad’s proudest public accomplishments came outside of politics. He worked with Milford’s Stephen Stowe Society to develop the town’s first homeless shelter – perhaps in honor of his mother, who took into her own Depression-era home many people who had nowhere else to go, Dad often waking to find strangers sleeping on couches and floors in his home.
A love of travel and a curiosity in the greater world led Jerry and Diane to acquire a travel agency in the late 70s.
Dad’s later projects were especially close to his heart, inspired by his love of history and his affinity for his adopted city. He noted that when the rest of the nation was 99% wilderness, Milford was already a thriving village. Hence, he joined the efforts to ensure that Milford’s nearly four centuries of history was preserved. Working with the Rotary, he embarked on the Milford Memories Project, interviewing many of the town’s elder statesmen and women, preserving their stories for posterity; those videotapes are part of the collection at Milford Public Library.
Finally, he enlisted other equally dedicated Milford citizens in the founding of the Milford Hall of Fame, and served as its first Chairman. The results are on proud display in the town’s Parson’s Complex.
This humble Irish son of a loving Irish mother has certainly left his mark on the town he loved.
Dad is survived by his wife of almost 70 years, Diane; daughter Cynthia Vere and her husband Wayne, who were of particular loving support to Dad and Mom in their later years; son Kevin Patton; daughter Susan Fox and her husband Robert Fox; son Kerry Patton and his partner Susan McGuire; and daughter Cheryl Patton. He also leaves nine grieving grandchildren and an ever-growing number of great-grandchildren. (His grandkids will especially miss his wink and grin as he magically found the spot in the crumbcake where the crumbs were this thickest.) He is also survived by his brother Richard.
Jerry leaves behind a rich legacy, full of love, dedication, honor – and more than little Irish humor. His family was blessed immensely with his life, and for that we are deeply thankful.
