Joseph W. Pepin

Joseph W. Pepin, 85, formerly of 20 Beechwood Dr. Danbury, CT went to eternal peace with our Lord and Savior on Friday, January 14, 2022 at his home surrounded by his loving Family. He is survived by his wife Alice (Nickerson) Pepin of 63 years, his brother Thomas G. and wife Margaret Pepin, and his children Debbie (Bryan) Newman, Elizabeth Demo, Barbara (Robert) Lanza, Dorothy Pepin and Joseph Pepin Jr. His grandchildren, Nicole Demo, Alison (Newman) Weston, Krystal Perrotti, Kyle Demo, Bradley Newman, Stephanie Perrotti, Bobby Lanza, Cameron Newman, Addisyn Lanza and great grandchildren Jayden Demo, Kali Montague, Kylee Demo, Theodore Weston and many nieces and nephews. Joe was predeceased by his parents Wilfred and Margaret (McGauley) Pepin, his sisters Dorothy (Pepin) Schaffer, Jean Marie Pepin, his brother Donald Pepin and nephews Thomas C. Pepin and Bradley Morris. Joe attended St. Peter School of Danbury and was a 1954 graduate of Danbury High School. He received his BA from UConn. He received his Master’s Degree from Western Connecticut State University and was a member of the Professional Fraternity for men in education Phi Delta Kappa. Joe also served in the Navy reserves. To pay for his college education Joe bought an Upsy-Daisy motorcycle ice cream truck and sold ice cream with his brothers. Joe was destined to be a teacher his only decision after graduating was what to teach, as there were no physical education positions available at the time. Once he decided to be a Math teacher, he attended Fairfield University to get his math degree. His first teaching stint was in Port Jervis, NY for three years but his birth home of Danbury kept calling him to return. He started at Danbury High School in 1963 and taught there for 15 years. He then organized the starting of The Alternative Center for Education in which he was the Director and taught for 20 years. Joe went by many names “My Rock”, “Dad”, “Pop” “Uncle” “Joe-Pep" "Pep”, “School Daddy”, “Joe”, “Joe Man” “Crazy Joe”, “The Man, The Myth, The Legend”, “The Go To Man“, “Surrogate Dad”, “Joe Cool” and “Godfather” just to name a few. Everyone he met probably had a name for him that corresponded on what he meant to them in their individual life. During his life he was a teacher, guidance counselor, class advisor, mentor, assistant principal, director, friend, colleague, volunteer fireman at Beaver Brook, Danbury City Councilman, Exchange Club of Danbury - Member and Past President, Old Timers Association of Greater Danbury, Elks, VFW, Catholic War Veterans, Richter Park Golf Club and Moose Lodge. He also had food stands at the Danbury State Fair until it closed and in which he used students from A.C.E. and the neighborhood to help staff. He also acted in several plays at Danbury High School. Along Joe’s journey he received numerous accolades and awards. Among them was Teacher of the Year in 1996 while at A.C.E. additionally he was awarded the Distinguished Service award from the CT Association of Alternative Schools & Programs. In addition, there was the Distinguished Citizenship Award in 1999 from the Elks Club, the Book of Golden Deeds award which recognizes dedicated volunteers giving endless hours of time and talents toward making communities a better place to live from the National Exchange Club, a proclamation from Mayor Mark Boughton in 2019 for dedication to the class of 1954, just to name a few. Joe’s family was his life along with service to the community. His smile and sense of humor are just some of things that we all will remember and miss most of all. A Mass of Christian Burial and Celebration of Life will be held on Wednesday, January 19th at 10:30 a.m. at St. Peter Church, Danbury, CT and immediately following will be the burial at St. Peter Cemetery, Danbury, CT Friends may call on Tuesday, January 18th from 4pm-7pm at Green Funeral Home, 57 Main St, Danbury. Those attending any of the services are requested to wear a mask. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in the memory of Joseph Pepin to: The Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org; or to the Family & Children’s Aid Inc., at fcaweb.org; or St. Peter Church, Danbury, CT. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.thegreenfuneralhome.com for the Pepin family.