Daniel Thomas Cosgrove Sr. obituary: Clancy-Palumbo Funeral Home, East Haven

Daniel Thomas Cosgrove Sr., 85 of Branford passed away peacefully at CT hospice on May 10, 2026. He was born on March 10, 1941, in New Haven to Daniel P. and Alice (Brown) Cosgrove. Daniel is survived by his seven loving children; Kathleen Cosgrove of Branford, Eileen Cosgrove of Branford, Daniel T. Cosgrove Jr. (Marie) of Greenwich, James Cosgrove (Nicole) of Branford, Meaghan Swanson (Justin) of Branford, Kevin Cosgrove of Branford and Clare Stowers (Jeffery) of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL along with ten beloved grandchildren; Susanna Siegel, Brent Siegel, Lily-Frances Cosgrove, Esme Cosgrove, Ruby Cosgrove, Finnian Cosgrove, Ava Cosgrove, Lila Cosgrove, Eliza Swanson and Owen Stowers. Daniel is also survived by his former wife, Jane Bell of Branford and a brother, Mark Cosgrove (Linda O’Neill) of Johnson City, TN. He was predeceased by his sister, Susan Barnes.

Dan was a lifelong resident of Branford with deep family roots in the area. He graduated from Branford High School in 1959. Dan earned a B.S. in English from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA in 1963. He worked in the family construction company, Cosgrove Construction, Inc. as an operator and an owner for fifty years and was a proud member of the IUOE Local 478. Dan was also a real estate developer and owned and operated several commercial real estate properties in Branford.

Dan was known for his quick wit and keen intelligence. He loved literature, especially poetry, and music, especially classic country, and taught himself to play the guitar. For many years, he was an avid fisherman and enjoyed boating with family and friends. He was an athlete in his youth and always a sports fan, especially of the Connecticut Huskies. He was a communicant of St. Mary’s Church.

Family and friends are invited to meet and attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday May 23, 2026 at 11 AM in St. Mary Church of St. John Bosco Parish, 731 Main Street, Branford CT 06405. Please go directly to the church on Saturday. Burial will be private and under the care of the Clancy-Palumbo Funeral Home, East Haven. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to CT Hospice, 100 Double Beach Rd., Branford CT 06405 or Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter, 749 E. Main Street, Branford CT 06405 in memory of Daniel Thomas Cosgrove Sr.