Joseph R. Horanzy

Joseph R. Horanzy, 86, of New Britain, died peacefully at home with his family by his side on May 2, 2011. He was born on Nov. 30, 1924, in West Natrona, PA, then moved to New Britain with his family where he attended local schools. He was the son of the late John and Helen (Ciborowski) Horanzy. He served in the 15th Air Force, 461st bomb group, based in Torretta, Italy during WWII. While in route to a bombing mission of Linz Austria his plane was shot down. Joe, a ball turret gunner, was classified as ‘missing in action’ having parachuted into Croatia. Out of the 10 crew members, Joe was one of four who was able to escape and evade capture for several weeks before returning safely to his base. Please visit www.ccsu.edu/page.cfm?p=1015 to view his WWII documents and video prepared through the CCSU Veterans History Project and is recorded in the Library of Congress.

After the war and returning to New Britain, Joe continued his education and obtained his Master’s Degree in education from CCSU, and his 6th year certificate from the University of Hartford. He taught in Berlin, CT at the Worthington School and was principal of Willard School. He then became the founding principal of Griswold School where he spent the majority of his years until his retirement in 1986. The school’s auditorium in named in his honor. He was a member of St. Maurice Church in New Britain for over 45 years.

Joe will be dearly missed by his devoted wife of 60 years, Irene (Dombkowski), his two loving daughters and their spouses; Karen Hayes and husband Thomas of Berlin, Diane Brylle and husband Kenneth of Plainville and his two sons and their spouses, Joseph Horanzy and wife Sandy and Thomas Horanzy and wife Karen, both of Southington. He was predeceased by 2 brothers and 3 sisters. Joe’s greatest joy was his closeness with his grandchildren,Trevor and Alyssa Hayes, Douglas and Matthew Brylle and Corrine and Mark Horanzy.

Funeral services will begin Saturday, May 7, 2011 at 9am at New Britain Memorial Donald D. Sagarino Funeral Home 444 Farmington Ave., New Britain followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 10am in St. Maurice Church. Burial with full military honors will follow in Sacred Heart Cemetery, New Britain. Visitation will be Friday, May 6, 2011 from 4-7 pm at the funeral home. The family would like to extend their sincere appreciation to the members of Hospice who assisted with caring for Joe during the past month. Memorial donations, in Joe’s memory, may also be made to: Hospice, VNA of Central CT, 56 West Main St, Plainville, CT 06062. For directions or to express an online condolence, please see attached links. Thank you.