Avon Obituary: Dr. Joseph Fote, Jr., 71

Joseph J. Fote, Jr., DMD, passed away on the morning of November 24, 2015 at the age of 71.

He is survived by his children Joseph Fote and his wife, Victoria (Ouelette) Fote; Lisa (Fote) Clarke and her husband, James; and Thomas Fote as well as his beloved grandson, Jimmi Clarke. He was predeceased by his wife of 42 years, Elaine (Noonan) Fote, who passed away November 8, 2010. He is also survived by his brothers: John J. Fote, MD and his wife Lorraine; Charles T. Fote and his wife Kaye Lynn; Donald Fote and his wife Denise; Michael Fote and his wife Sharon and his sister, Diane Fote. Besides his beloved family he leaves behind nieces, nephews, in-laws and their families as well as a host of dear and close friends and colleagues.

Joe was born to Joseph and Rita (Sposito) Fote on November 4, 1944, the older half of a set of twins that included his brother John. Joe grew up in West Hartford as the oldest of six children and through hard work and the generosity of members of Tumblebrook Country Club, where he caddied as a teen, he was able to attend Providence College. After graduating from Providence College in 1966 Joe went on to dental school at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, now part of Rutgers University.

While at UMDNJ Joe met a nurse named Elaine Noonan, who turned out to be the great love of his life. After a two year courtship, they were married at St. Barnabas Catholic Church in North Haven, Connecticut. Joe and Elaine began their family while still in New Jersey, with the birth of their first son, Joe, III. Once Joe received his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree in 1971, the Fote trio returned to Connecticut and Joe went into practice. Over the next 34 years, Joe managed to run a successful practice while growing his family with the additions of, first, Lisa and, later, Tom. He also continued to be a dedicated husband, a loving and kind father, and a compassionate and caring son, brother and uncle.

He retired from private practice in 2005 in order to better care for his wife Elaine as she dealt with illness. The two moved to Fort Myers, Florida, where, while caring for Elaine, Joe also worked part-time as a dentist for the Veterans Administration. After Elaine’s passing, Joe returned to Connecticut, where he continued to practice part-time until earlier this year. Joe’s greatest joy in life was caring for his patients; he considered it an honor when they entrusted their care to him.

Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday (December 3) at 10:00 a.m. at the Church of the Incarnation, 544 Prospect Street, Wethersfield. The burial will be private and there are no calling hours.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Joe’s memory may be made to the CT Children’s Medical Center Foundation, 282 Washington St., Hartford, CT 06106.

Funeral arrangements by the D’Esopo Funeral Chapel, Wethersfield. To share a memory of Joe with his family, please visit www.desopo.com.