Farmington Obituary: Joseph Ruzbasan, 88

Joseph S Ruzbasan (Papa Joe, Slim, Sonny) passed away on September 24th 2018 – he was the beloved husband of Kathleen (Dunne) Ruzbasan for 65 years. He was the son of the late Joseph and Julia Trivaudey Ruzbasan. Born August 23, 1930 in Torrington.

He raised 6 sons and their children; Stephen & Saundra – Christopher, Heather, Meghan, Michaela, and Shaina; Thomas and Amy – Matthew and Thomas; David and Cathy – Kirstin, James and Kelley – Wesley, Dyllan, James Patrick; Joseph and Jessica – Kaitlyn and Kyle; Michael – Tyler and Kayden; and two daughters, Kathleen and Roger Neuhausser – Roger Jr. and David; Margaret Anne and Thomas Franzi – Aaron.He had 5 great grandchildren and 33 nieces and nephews. He left behind his sister Marianne and Phil Lent from Torrington.

Joe spent his childhood with his Grandfather Trivaudey at Tyler Lake in Goshen, where he met his beloved wife Kathleen. They continued to vacation to the lake every year at the cottage. In 1951 he entered the USCG becoming boatswain mate 3 – spending most of his duty at Shinnecock Life Boat Station.

Joseph spent 40 years as a lineman with HelCo, where in 1973 he resuscitated a construction worker that was electrocuted on the job site. While raising his family he was involved for 31 years at the Hartford County 4-H program. He was a city boy that became a farmer and maintained his own farm on West District Rd for 52 years.

He had many fishing and hunting trips with his sons and he enjoyed his summer camping trips to Sebago Lake in Maine with the family. He volunteered his time at FISH NWCT Food Pantry in Torrington.

Joe was a man that was well known in the Unionville community and was a mentor and friend to the younger generation. Joe was part of the fabric that is Unionville and will be missed by many.

The Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated Saturday September 29th at 10:00 am in the Church of St. Mary Star of the Sea in Unionville, followed by burial in St. Mary Cemetery Avon.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Dr. Edward P. Dunne Scholarship Fund, Inc., P.O. Box 625, Unionville, CT 06085.

Arrangements are being handled by Ahern Funeral Home Inc. To send online condolences to the family, please visit www.ahernfuneralhome.com.