Obituary: Daniel P. Cosgrove, 98, of Branford

Information via W.S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home,

Daniel P. Cosgrove of 99 Todds Hill Rd. Branford passed away peacefully on April 12 surrounded by loving family and friends.

Daniel was born on November 19, 1917, son of James and Elizabeth O'Brien Cosgrove.

He was the husband of the late Alice Brown Cosgrove and father of Daniel T. Cosgrove and Susan Cosgrove Barnes, both of Branford and Mark M. Cosgrove (Linda) of Johnson City, TN.

Dan led a life full enough for several men. A prominent, respected and trusted excavation contractor for over sixty years he built airports in Cuba, Block Island and Oxford, CT; corporate headquarters for Bayer Labs, Bristol Meyers and Ethan Allen Furniture; as well as roads and schools throughout the state.

Dan's political life was as full, active locally and statewide. He was on a first name basis with some of the most important people in Washington D.C. It was understood by most that if you needed to get something done, he was the man to see.

Dan was an important piece of the effort to bring the first Hospice in the United States to Branford, helping to obtain funding, and doing the site work for the original building free of charge. He was a large contributor to the success of its present quarters in Short Beach.

An autodidact with a remarkable memory, he would read himself to sleep with Shakespeare, and American and British History. He was legendary for his skills in arithmetic without benefit of paper or pencil.

As a young man he had an impressive career as a professional boxer. His crowning achievement in that arena was being inducted into the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame at age 90.

Mr. Cosgrove leaves nine grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his brother James Cosgrove Jr. and his sister Kathryn Cappiello. His family extends special thanks to the staff of CT Hospice and his aides Ampi, Troy, and Mo.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday at 11:00 at St. Mary Church in Branford. Friends are invited to go directly to church. Burial will follow in St. Agnes Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Thursday from 4-8 P.M. at the W.S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home, 244 North Main St. Branford. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to CT Hospice, 100 Double Beach Rd. Branford, CT 06405.