Jean Agnes Cassidy

1930 – 2015

Jean Agnes Cassidy, 85, beloved wife of Joe Allen Cassidy Sr. passed away peacefully in her home on July 30, 2015. Jean was born on June 6, 1930 in Middletown, New York. The daughter of the late Walter Dages Sr. and Margaret Dages. Jean was one of five children, she is survived by two brothers Walter Dages Jr. and his wife Louise of Ridgefield, Robert Dages and his wife Laurie of Monroe and her two sisters Doris Cakavell and her husband George of Fairfield and Janice Westberg and her husband David also of Bridgeport.

Jean met her beloved husband Joe many, many years ago on a blind date. Joe was serving in the Marines and was picking up Helicopters from Sikorsky in Stratford when they went on their first date. Just ten days later they were engaged and shortly afterwards they were married on April 26, 1958 in Bakersfield, CA, while Joe was stationed in Tustin CA, Santa Ana Marine Base.

Jean worked at the Orange County Courthouse as a Tax Auditor while Joe finished his time of service with the Marines. While in California Jean and Joe adopted two children. Eventually they moved back to Connecticut and found a house in Trumbull, CT. Jean and Joe adopted two more children and remained in their residence in Trumbull where they raised their four children.

Jean enjoyed her Tea, and later in life, hot milk while watching the birds in the backyard. She was also very fond of growing African Violets on the enclosed porches of the house, as well as the living room sometimes. She was an amazing baker and was well known for her homemade pies, cakes and cookies.

Jean and Joe also shared a love for being Ham Radio Operators and the two often made connections with people from around the world. Jeans call sign was NM1P. When the L’Ambiance Plaza Building fell, Jean used the Ham Radio base in her home as the Emergency Radio Control center for the search, rescue and clean-up of the disaster. The two also taught new wanna-be Ham Radio Operators Morse code, got them up to the required speed and administered the tests required in order to get their Ham Radio license.

Jean started working for the CHRS radio program for the sight impaired out of Trumbull High School. She spoke on the air, prepared the schedules for the program hours, trained new radio broadcasters in how the perform the job functions and even got her grandchildren, as well as her children to come in on Saturday mornings to read on air for the listeners of CHRS radio. When she retired from the CHRS radio program she had been recognized as Volunteer of the Year in 1992 for her hard work, devotion and volunteer time given to the CHRS Radio program.

For many years Jean and Joe also shared a passion for photography, turning a portion of the house basement into a photo developing studio. It was soon learned by their children when the basement door was closed to knock or risk possibly ruining the film being developed or the pictures being printed.

The Grandchildren’s fondest memories of their Grandmother are going to her house for Buttercrunch Ice Cream which was usually topped off with dab of whip cream on their hands for them to lick off, orange juice mixed with 7-up and the stories told of when Granny was a child she use to ride a dinosaur to school.

In addition to her beloved husband Joe of 57 years, Jean is survived by her four children. Joe Allen Cassidy Jr of Newtown, Bronwynn Marie Lydem of Naugatuck, Michael Stephan Cassidy of Hamden and Shannynn Colleen Cella of Shelton, eight Granmdchildren Marlena Anzalone, Amanda Thomas, Samantha Cassidy, Alfred Anzalone, Joshua Salthouse, Felicia Anzalone, Emily Cassidy, Jessica Lydem and five Great Grandchildren.