Michael E. Grogan

Michael E. Grogan, 78, of East Hartford, loving husband for 54 years to Ann (Yarsawich) Grogan, journeyed home suddenly on Saturday, November 26, 2011 at Hartford Hospital. Born in Hartford on July 24, 1933, a son of the late John and Margaret (Cunningham) Grogan, he had resided in Bristol for 20 years prior to moving to East Hartford in 1984. He was a graduate of Bulkeley High School in Hartford, Class of 1951 and the Ward School of Electronics at the University of Hartford. Michael was a proud veteran of the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War and was a talented artist who enjoyed sketching portraits and landscapes. Prior to his retirement, Michael was employed for over 20 years by the city of Hartford-Board of Education where he was an Audio Visual Technician. After his retirement, he went to work as a security officer at the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford where he was a dedicated employee for many years. A devout Catholic, Michael was a faithful communicant of St. Christopher Church, East Hartford. A sports enthusiast, Michael loved coaching his children and grandchildren, especially Girls Softball, a sport he coached for several years in the town of East Hartford. He was a loyal fan of the Boston Red Sox and an avid fan of the former Hartford Whalers. Most of all, Michael was an avid reader who loved spending time with his eight special grandchildren. Along with his beloved wife, Ann, Michael is survived by his four wonderful daughters, Mary-Beth Welesko and her husband, Larry, of North Kingstown, RI, Janice Andrews and her husband, Alan, of Broad Brook, Lisa Sobestanovich and her husband, James, of Southington, Major Katie Sheppard of the U.S. Army and her husband, Major Cullen Sheppard of the U.S. Army, both of Cornwall, NY; eight adored grandchildren, Melissa and Brian Welesko, Emily and Kelsey Sobestanovich, Alana and Jenna Andrews, Michaela Shea, and Margaret “Maggie” Sheppard. He also leaves two brothers, William Grogan of Willimantic, James Grogan of East Hartford; three sisters, Helen Boardman and her husband, Robert, of East Hartford, Dorothy Palowski and her husband, Richard, of East Hartford, Mary Dubay and her husband, Richard, of Ellington; many nieces, nephews, and dear friends.

Funeral services will be Wednesday (November 30th) at 9 am from the D’Esopo

-East Hartford Memorial Chapel, 30 Carter Street, East Hartford with a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated at 10 am at St. Christopher Church, 538 Brewer Street, East Hartford. Burial with military honors will follow at Veteran’s Memorial Field-Silver Lane Cemetery, East Hartford. Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home chapel on Tuesday (November 29th) from 4-8 pm. Memorial contributions in Michael’s name may be made to the East Catholic High School Scholarship Fund, c/o Advancement Office, 115 New State Road, Manchester, CT 06042. For any on-line expressions of sympathy to the family please visit www.desopo.com.