Joseph Michael Szakacs

Joe was born on January 20, 1951, to Marie Slate in Hartford, CT. He was raised by his mother and stepfather, Carl Slate. Joe joined the military in 1968. He was a proud veteran who served in the U.S. Army as a cook and was stationed at Camp Mosier, Korea, in 1969.

When Joe came back from overseas, he transferred to the National Guard and was ranked as Sergeant. He then began his civilian career at The Hartford Insurance Group in September of 1970. Joe obtained his high school diploma in 1978. In 1988, his successful career started when working for MPS in East Hartford, which underwent several name changes over the years from OTI to DST, before becoming Broadridge in 2017. He retired in June of 2018.

A devoted family man, Joe was a loving husband to his wife, and a proud father and grandfather. He cherished his time with his grandson, and was known for being a true partner to his wife.

Beyond his professional life, Joe was a man of many passions. A die-hard New York Yankees fan with their logo tattooed on his arm, he also loved to play baseball, golf and bowling. He enjoyed the outdoors fishing and hunting in his hayday with his friends. In his later years, he spent many happy hours at Lake Winding Trails with his best friend, Ray Sanford. Joe was also a talented cook who enjoyed preparing meals for large gatherings. He and his wife loved to travel, especially to Cape Cod, and Mexico. Joe also had a remarkable memory for oldies music and could sing any song word for word. Joe will be remembered for his kindness, his love for his family, and his lively spirit with a million stories to tell.

He is survived by his wife, Renata Sempik; his daughter and son-in-law, Monica and Matthew Bartoszkiewicz; his grandson, Aleksander Bartoszkiewicz; his sister, Joyce Andrews; and two estranged sisters, along with several nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind many dear friends, including Rebecca Nowatzki and Raymond Sanford, the Bartoszkiewicz family, the Sempik family, and the Jajuga family.

Relatives and friends are asked to visit with the family on Friday, August 29, 2025, from 4-8 PM at New Britain Memorial-Donald D. Sagarino Funeral Home, 444 Farmington Ave., New Britain, CT. Burial will be on Saturday, August 30, at 10 AM at Sacred Heart Cemetery, 662 Burritt St., New Britain, CT. Everyone is asked to meet directly at the cemetery.