UPDATE: 'Mr. Milford' Alan Jepson Has Died

One of the city’s most beloved figures former Mayor and former long-time City Clerk Alan Jepson passed away Tuesday.

Besides being a local hero, Jepson was also a military hero earning the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame induction certificate for his Navy service.

Jepson served in the Navy in the Pacific theatre during World War II aboard the destroyer USS Collett. Upon returning to Connecticut he served as the state Auditor of Public Accounts, three terms as Milford mayor and nine terms as Milford city clerk and registrar of vital statistics.

He also served as Milford’s deputy director of the Department of Community Development. Jepson is a member of the local WWII Veteran’s Committee, VFW Post 7788 and American Legion Post 196.

Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3) issued the following statement today on the passing of former Milford mayor and long-time former city clerk, Alan H. Jepson.

“It is difficult to put into words what Alan Jepson has meant to the Milford community - - he was one-of-a-kind. A rare individual who dedicated a lifetime to public service, Alan was a reflection of all that we hope and expect community leaders to be. He helped to shape the very character of this community and the City of Milford will not be the same without him. His passing marks the end of an era.”

“In so many ways, and to so many including myself, Alan was a mentor. I am so proud to have called him my friend. He and his late wife, Betty, a remarkable woman herself, welcomed me to their community with open arms and I will forever be grateful for their many years of friendship. My thoughts and prayers are with his five daughters; Linda, Susan, Margo, Nancy and Paula, as well as his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.”

See related story: Obituary: Alan H. Jepson, 89, Former Milford Mayor and City Clerk

“It’s hard to put measure to such a man as our dear friend Alan, a man who was affectionately referred to as “Mr. Milford” because of his love of, and dedication to, our city,” said Democratic Town Chairman Richard Smith. “He was, first and foremost, a gentleman, a thoughtful man, a fair man, who led through example, an example he set for all who participate in civic life. While he was a dedicated member of Milford’s Democratic Party, I know that all the people of Milford loved him and he transcended Party and touched all who had the privilege to know him. He will be missed but he will never be forgotten.”

Milford Republicans also expressed sadness at the news of Jepson’s passing.

“We are all sadden this morning to hear of the passing of a true gentleman and a great ambassador for Milford, Alan Jepson.” Paul Beckwith chairman of the Milford Republican Town Committee said this morning. “ Mr. Jepson was a man who truly loved this City and the citizens who live hear,” Beckwith said. “He dedicated himself to a lifetime of public service from his time as a member of our military, as Mayor of Milford, and as City Clerk, Alan always gave of himself to others. With Alan’s passing, we have lost a great deal of Milford’s history, but we are all better people to have had Alan in our lives and to call him our neighbor and friend. We send our deepest love and sympathies to all his family.”

“Alan is the very definition of a Hall of Fame veteran,” said Sen. Gayle Slossberg, who presented the certificate to Jepson at his home at Carriage Green in Milford in 2014.

“For some people it’s not enough to go to war and lay your life on the line to defend our freedoms and liberties. When Alan came home, he put that dedication to democracy into practice for decades at the state and local level. We are so fortunate to have people like Alan Jepson serving our country, serving our state, and serving people in towns like Milford,” Slossberg said in 2014.

Jepson was nominated by local attorney Kevin J. Curseaden, who served a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserve. Curseaden first met Jepson 17 years ago as a new attorney interacting with Milford’s city clerk’s office.

“The Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame is focused on what veterans do after their military service. Alan immediately jumped to my mind because I knew he had already been named as one of Milford’s ‘Living Treasures,’” Curseaden said in 2014. “Because of his service in World War II and his lifelong community service, I knew he was the perfect person to nominate.”

On Wednesday, October 12, 2012, the Milford Housing Authority named the Harrison Avenue housing complex as Alan H. Jepson Manor.

“Some might see this as just one more event among the many times and ways that Alan Jepson has been honored; after all he’s been recognized as Milford’s Living Treasure, he has had streets and buildings named for him, and he is often simply referred to as “Mr. Milford,” said Mayor Benjamin G. Blake in a 2011 interview. “But this event was special to me personally. It really made me consider how profoundly this man has helped to shape our city, as well as how deeply Alan Jepson has affected me.

“Everyone standing around at Jepson Manor and elsewhere in Milford knows Alan is our beloved, former City Clerk of 22 years and three-term Mayor. I had the great privilege of sitting at Alan’s right hand for several years during our Board of Aldermen meetings, and my education from this statesman and scholar was inspiring. I learned why this gentleman, a staunch Democrat, ran unopposed for 10 of his 11 terms as City Clerk; he truly served all his constituents without favoritism, nepotism or bias.

“Serving on the Board of Aldermen while Alan Jepson was City Clerk revealed his deep and impressive knowledge of city statute and governance. He could convincingly explain to a contentious meeting room how properly funding the City Clerk’s Office would ensure fair elections thereby preserving all the other basic civil and political rights we cherish.

Sometimes, sitting next to Mr. Jepson into the wee small hours of the morning, when others in the audience seemed like they might have dozed off, he’d lean-over and cheerfully remind the Aldermen that in all his years attending Board meetings “good decisions rarely happened after midnight.” These were some of the many conversations that deeply affected me and focused my determination for public service.

There were countless accolades for Mr. Jepson ..., and different speakers focused on various aspects of his devotion to public service. But the comment that stood out for me was voiced by former Speaker of the House, Jim Amann, as he said, “Alan Jepson is exactly what every man should want to be...there is no one better than Alan Jepson.” In my continuing work in public service to our city, I will forever be grateful and mindful of my mentor, Alan H. Jepson,” Blake said in 2011.

Milford Housing Authority Executive Director Anthony Vasiliou said “Alan Jepson was a great supporter of public housing, a fellow Rotarian who gave tirelessly to the organization and a wonderful friend that shared with me the history of public housing in Milford. The community has lost a generational figure that helped to reshape Milford forever.”

“As you know, after covering the dedication of the Alan H. Jepson Manor on Harrison Avenue, former Mayor Jepson was most proud of his contribution to public housing in the face of extreme community criticism in the 1960’s. Please be sure to mention his efforts to help so many families through the years to live in safe, decent and sanitary housing in Milford,” Vasiliou said.