Walter J. Mcgill

Walter J. McGill, 83 of East Hartford, passed away peacefully after a brief illness on August 2, 2010. Born on June 27, 1927 in Dorchester, MA he attended Boston University and served in the United States Marine Corps. He moved to East Hartford in the early 1950's and worked for Liberty Mutual Insurance Company for 40 years. Walter served as a district chairman for the Democratic Party during his many years in town politics. He and his wife Barbara hosted many festive Election Day gatherings. He loved his vacations with his family for 55 summers in Popponesset Beach, Cape Cod, MA. In his retirement, Walter and his wife enjoyed many happy winters in Pompano Beach, FL. He was a devoted member of St. Christopher Church in East Hartford. Walter was predeceased by his loving wife of 48 years Barbara Golden McGill, his daughter Katharine McGill, his sister Joyce McGill and his sister-in-law Rita McGill. He is survived by his children, Janet Fuller and her husband Milton of East Hartford, Joyce Crain of Boston, MA, Kevin McGill and his wife Linda of Manchester, Kerry McGill and her husband Ben Shapiro of Quincy, MA and Daniel McGill and his wife Lisa of Glastonbury; his brothers, Donald McGill of Dorchester, MA and Garth McGill and his wife Simone of Albi, France. He will be greatly missed by his grandchildren, Ryan, Elayne, Shannon, Tara, Kayla, Ethan, Charlotte, Conor, Erin, Brian, Sean, Rylie and Taylor and his great-grandchildren Danny, Michael, Emily and Patrick and many loving nieces and nephews. Walter will be remembered for his sense of humor, his love of story telling, politics, Irish music, and above all else his unwavering devotion to his family. He will be dearly missed by all. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Jimmy Fund Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Contribution Services, 10 Brookline Place West, 6th Floor, Brookline, MA 02445-7226. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday, August 5 at 9 a.m. at St. Christopher Church, 536 Brewer Street, East Hartford. Everyone is respectfully asked to go directly to church on Thursday morning. Burial will follow at 1p.m. in St. Joseph Cemetery, West Roxbury, MA. Calling hours are Wednesday, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the D'Esopo-East Hartford Memorial Chapel, 30 Carter Street, East Hartford. For online expressions of sympathy to the family please visit www.desopo.com.