Simsbury Obituary: Joseph Longo, Jr., 86

Joseph Longo, Jr., 86, of West Simsbury, beloved husband of 61 years to Teresa (LaMountain) Longo, passed away Thursday, July 14, 2016 in Hartford.

Born in Somerville, MA, son of the late Joseph and Domenica (Guelpa) Longo, he was raised in East Boston, MA and was a graduate of Boston English High School. He received a degree in chemical engineering from Northeastern University in 1952, later pursuing additional graduate work at MIT and RPI.

He began his professional career with General Electric in Schenectady, NY, where among other achievements, he developed reactor designs for naval nuclear propulsion systems under Admiral Hyman Rickover. He then joined Combustion Engineering in Windsor, retiring in 1995 after more than 25 years in commercial reactor design work with the company.

His passions included gatherings with his large family, the Red Sox, travel with his wife "Tess," attending the theater with close friends, golf, photography, and a good book.

In addition to his loving wife Teresa, he leaves behind his children and their spouses; Kevin A. Longo (Susan) of Granby, Kimberly L. LaVerde (Michael) of Simsbury, Kristopher J. Longo (Lu Ann) of New Hartford, Kenneth M. Longo (Sharon) of Granby, MA, and Kurt M. Longo (Kara) of Ellicott City, MD; eight grandchildren; AJ (Emily) and Cassandra Longo; Jeremy, Shane, and Kerrie LaVerde; Mason Longo; and Ryan and Sydney Longo; four extended grandchildren; Jessica and Amy Andreoli; Nicole and Christopher LaVerde; a great grandson, Jackson Longo; a sister, Evelyn Cicchese (Louis) of East Weymouth, MA; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a sister and her husband Marie Pezzulo (Carmen) of Saugus, MA.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday, July 18, 2016, at 11 AM at St. Catherine of Siena Church, 265 Stratton Brook Road, West Simsbury. Burial will follow in Simsbury Cemetery. There are no calling hours.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The National Kidney Foundation or to the Simsbury Volunteer Ambulance Association.

The Carmon Funeral Home & Family Center of Avon is caring for the arrangements.