Owen Richard Setzer

Owen Richard Setzer, 73 of Newington, peacefully passed away on Sunday, July 2, 2023. Owen was born on September 6, 1949 in Hartford to Richard Setzer and Elsie Luxenberg, both originally from Pennsylvania. He was welcomed by an older brother, Alan. Owen graduated from Penney High School, class of 1968. In 1973, he married Eloise Lovine and together they had one child, Eric James Setzer.

After their divorce (1987), he married Joan Toone, then of Middletown, and her son, Matthew Daniel (3), a marriage that lasted 35 years and produced twins, David Richard, and Daniel Robert (1989).

He worked for Pratt & Whitney in East Hartford for 27 years, starting in the mailroom and working his way up from Mailroom Clerk to the Engineering Department where he assisted in Blueprint production, assembling very detailed spec books for the airplane engines, and any other Reprographic materials required by the Engineers. The recession of 1993 left him surprised and jobless until Joseph Merritt & Company, commercial printers, hired him to do essentially the same job that he was doing at Pratt, for Pratt. Two years later, he was working part-time in their satellite office in downtown Hartford, which involved some casual work for Jeeter, Cook and Jepsen, an Architectural firm in the same office building. He did so well that JCJ requested that he be made permanent and work exclusively for them. Blueprints had evolved to a more sophisticated type of computer printing using more complicated Xerox-type printers that Owen adapted to. He put binders with spines together for presentations; brochure-type spec books for the Architects to sell a client a project, and he made foam boards of pictures that his wife took, or his two idols: Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley. He continued to work there until the next downturn- the recession in 2008, when he was again laid off, along with so many others.

Owen retired, except for a brief stint with Connecticut Limousine when he drove clients back and forth to JFK predominately. In the past several years, he and his wife made an annual pilgrimage to Ohio to visit her family. He always did the bulk of the driving. They made several trips down South, often to visit family and museums or other attractions where they would put on 3000 miles or more. He drove Joan to many of her concerts (and lately rehearsals) and performances and could often be spotted as one of the Ushers. Owen was interested in flying and was proud to have obtained his private pilot’s license. He was a history buff and especially interested in the Revolutionary War, the Civil War and WWII. Many of their vacations were spent at museums or battlegrounds, learning about these events. He loved the old Hollywood movies and sixties music. Oh, and 60’s-80’s TV: Mannix, Gunsmoke, Cannon, Bonanza.

He was predeceased by his elder brother, Alan, both of his parents, and his stepmother, Charlotte. He is survived by his wife, Joan Toone, his sons, Eric, Matthew, David, and Daniel; his sister-in-law, Candice and nieces, Jessica (Mike Makowski), Rachel (Ken Romaniw) and Nancy Turner, and their children, his various great-nieces and nephew.

Calling hours will be Friday (July 7) from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the D’Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Blvd., Wethersfield. A simple service will follow at 7 p.m. A Memorial Service will be held later in August or September at First Church in Wethersfield, where they were members. Burial service will be private at the convenience of the family. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to The Connecticut Gilbert and Sullivan Society, P.O. Box 313, Middlefield, CT 06455 or to First Church of Christ, 250 Main Street, Wethersfield, CT 06109.