Earl Leon ""Lee Hotchkiss

Earl Leon ""Lee"" Hotchkiss, 80, of Clearwater, FL, joined the Lord on Friday, November 7, 2014 after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born April 2, 1934 in Bristol and is pre-deceased by his parents, Kenneth and Helen (Sonneman) Hotchkiss. He was a 1952 graduate of Weaver High School and later that year joined the United States Navy serving through 1956. He was employed as a celebrated Patrolman for the Hartford Police Department for 27 years; 14 of which he dedicated to his beat, Union Place. Lee was well respected throughout the Hartford Community and revered for his innovative approaches to community policing. He also served as Deputy Sheriff with the Hartford County Sheriff's Department at Manchester Superior Court for 15 years. He played left-field for the Burnside Dovelettes, a fast-pitch softball team in the 60's and 70's. He was a champion power lifter, often competing in the Police & Fire Olympics and holding numerous championship titles with the American Drug Free Powerlifting Association. He was an avid baseball fan of the New York Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles. He is survived by his two daughters, Lynn Hotchkiss and Kim Giuliano; a son and daughter-in-law, Shannon and Jennifer Hotchkiss; a step-son, Robert Grant; nine grandchildren; his sisters, Patricia Tallis-Fedo and her husband, Ronald; and Theresa Progin; a brother, William Sonneman, and many nieces and nephews; his special ""lady friend"", Sarah Shevlin; and his beloved cat, Sweetpea. The family will receive friends and relatives on Friday, November 21 from 5-7 pm at the D'Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Blvd., Wethersfield. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, November 22 at 11 am at St. Augustine Church,10 Campfield Avenue, Hartford. Family burial to be private. For online expressions of sympathy, please visit www.desopo.com.