Enfield Civic Leader And Renowned Sportsman Larry Tracey Dies

ENFIELD, CT ? Larry Tracey, a civic-minded businessman who was active for many years in numerous organizations and sporting activities in Enfield and throughout the state, died Saturday. He was 77.

Tracey was hired to replace the late Francis "Roxy" Burke as executive director of North Central Connecticut Chamber of Commerce in 2002, and served until retiring in early 2011. He had previously been a member of the chamber's board of directors and the executive board, including a stint as president. Later, he worked as a marketing representative for the Tolland County Chamber of Commerce.

Upon moving to Enfield with his wife and daughters in 1969, Tracey worked as a claims adjuster for the Travelers Insurance Co. until the mid-1970s. He then started an Enfield branch office of the Glastonbury Insurance Agency.

"For the first three months, I worked out of my house, then we opened an office on Enfield Street, across from Dairy Queen," he said in a 2011 interview with Patch.

In short order, he was able to get a loan and buy his book of business from Glastonbury Insurance, forming the Tracey Insurance Agency in 1976. That same year, he began his three decades-plus association with the NCCCC.

"There was a little article in the newspaper that said Business After Hours, so I dialed the number and decided to go," he said in 2011. "In those days, it cost two bucks to attend, but new members were free. Marcel St. Sauveur was executive director of the chamber, and he grabbed my hand and introduced me to about half a dozen people. The next day, I went to his office on Hazard Ave., filled out an application and became a chamber member."

Tracey became active in numerous chamber activities, including the annual golf tournament, Breakfast Connections and Business After Hours. He sold his business to the Burns, Brooks & McNeil agency, but continued to work with them for several more years.

When Burke fell ill, Tracey was named interim director, and was hired as the permanent director when Burke passed away. As the head of the organization, Tracey oversaw events such as the annual Home and Products Show and the Business to Business Showcase.

Community service has always been part of Tracey's makeup. He is a past president of the Enfield Rotary Club, and in 1993 he was one of the founders of the Enfield Rotary Classic, a holiday basketball tournament that has raised thousands of dollars for the girls basketball program at Enfield High School, and previously at Fermi High School as well.

Former Enfield mayor Scott Kaupin said, "I had the opportunity to work with Larry Tracey in a number of capacities over the years, with two of them being very impactful on our community. As the executive director of the North Central Connecticut Chamber of Commerce, Larry was a strong advocate for the small businesses in our community. The chamber, under Larry's leadership, played an active role in economic development efforts, was a trusted resource for our local government and supported the efforts of many cultural and civic organizations, making Enfield a better place to live, work and play. Larry was also an active member of the Rotary Club of Enfield. When he saw a need, Larry took action as a community member and Rotarian. He was one of the founders of the Enfield Rotary Classic, a high school girls basketball tournament, that directly benefitted the girls' basketball programs at Enfield High School and Enrico Fermi High School. The tournament ran for 26 years and raised tens of thousands of dollars to help support the programs. Larry Tracey made a big and positive impact within our community."

"Larry Tracey was the truest of gentlemen, always full of life and laughter, a mentor to so many," past chamber and Rotary Club president Chris Casey said. "To me, a great friend for most of my adult life, like a big brother, there through the ups and downs of life, personally and professionally. So many memories from weddings, children, grandchildren, vacations and so many community events and activities. He was a constant in my life. He will be missed by many."

Rich Tkacz, also a past president of the Rotary Club and the chamber, said, "I remember Larry as a great family man who gave a lot back to the community. He was a fellow Rotarian of mine who started the Rotary basketball girls tournament. All the profits went back to the Enfield and Fermi High School girls teams. There were some great rivalries throughout the years. He also brought the North Central Chamber of Commerce to a new level through his tenure as executive director. He was a friend and mentor. He will surely be missed."

Tracey spent more than three decades as a football and basketball official, served as president of the Central Connecticut Association of Football Officials (CCAFO), and was inducted into that organization's Hall of Fame in 2008. That same year, he was presented the George Daly Jr. Special Recognition Award by the Enfield Athletic Hall of Fame.

Longtime official John Hogan said, "He was a great friend and mentor to me when I joined the CCAFO. We served on the field committee together."

"Larry Tracey was one of a kind," Hall of Fame chairman Mike Cotnoir said. "There was hardly anything that he did not have his hands in during his decades serving Enfield and our region. He always put his heart and soul into helping the average person, business, athlete, or team to make them shine. A passion for giving back to the community was his calling. He led so many endeavors including his insurance business, the North Central Chamber of Commerce, Enfield Rotary Club, and the Central Connecticut Association of Football Officials to name a few. He impacted so many people?s lives with humor, diligence, compassion, commitment, honesty and encouragement. He is a once-in-a-generation type of man who led with humility and perseverance. It was our great honor to bestow the George Daly Jr. Special Recognition Award to him in 2008. We will miss him tremendously, but his legacy lives on in many of our residents, businesses, students and athletes today. Our deepest condolences to his family, and know that our communities have been deeply touched by all he gave for so many years."

Tracey officiated high school and college football games for nearly a quarter-century, retiring following an on-field injury in 1994 after working more than 1,000 contests. He became an off-field official as electronic clock operator for UConn football games at Rentschler Field.

Athletics always played an important role in Tracey's life. He spent many years involved with the Enfield Merchants team in a recreational softball league, and his brother Wayne was also a longtime football official. Upon Wayne's induction into the CCAFO Hall of Fame in 2014, they became the first set of brothers ever honored.

Tracey's daughters Theresa, Andrea and Melissa were all cheerleaders at Fermi. His grandson Chase Solesky was drafted by the Chicago White Sox out of Tulane University in 2019, and in three professional seasons, has averaged nearly a strikeout an inning, fanning 221 batters in 227 innings in 58 games, including 55 starts. In Sept. 2022, he was promoted to Double-A Birmingham, making two relief appearances covering six innings, with eight strikeouts and a 1.50 earned run average.

Funeral arrangements are not yet completed.