Obituary: Joseph Andrew Jaeger, 99, Of Redding

Information and Photo Courtesy Bouton Funeral Home

REDDING, CT — Joseph Andrew Jaeger was born on June 5, 1922 and passed to heaven on December 29, 2021 after a brief illness.

Born into an Irish Catholic family with two sisters and many cousins, the family moved to Pelham, NY in the late thirties.

Joe started his working life for the American Tobacco Company and then as page boy for the Daily News. Thinking he would follow the path of a newsman he later worked for the Greenwich Times writing local features.

Since there was little money for college, Joe would become a self-taught scholar by reading in libraries, going to museums and many visits to the movies. Eventually, he would take night classes at Fordham University.

In 1940 he met his wife Doris (Dee) K. Neumann and were soon married. Living in several locations throughout New York City and Long Island, Joe and Dee settled in Redding, where they would build their home and raise a family. Being an avid tennis player, Joe would play in tennis tournaments in Redding and would continue “to hit some balls around” well into his 80s.
With the help of Dee, Joe landed a job in international public relations and corporate event planning for Westinghouse International Corporation. This opportunity vaulted Joe into 36 years of travel to Latin America, the Middle East, Asia and Europe. Just before retirement he lived three years in London working for the nuclear power division of the company.

Joe’s voracious thirst for knowledge, led him to take classes in French, Spanish, painting, furniture making, and archeology. A world traveler, teller of great stories, historian extraordinaire, Joe’s knowledge surpassed any books or film. His quest for knowledge knew no bounds, as in his later years quantum mechanics was high on his intellectual pursuit.

A devout Catholic, he was a member of St. Mary’s church in Bethel. He was a selfless man and volunteered for over 30 years, several times a week at the Pope John Paul Medical Center in Danbury, playing bridge, getting books for the residents and performed altar services for the masses. For many years, he read to the blind on the radio. Joe was an associate of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth in Monroe.

Joe lived life on his own terms and was a consistent mentor and teacher for his family. Still driving and living in quiet solitude in his own apartment until he reached his heavenly resting place.

He will be greatly missed.

Joseph is survived by his son Christopher Jaeger & his wife, Diane Rodriguez of Southbury.
Their children Dieter Jaeger of Boston, Massachusetts and Onna Jaeger of Seattle, Washington. His daughter, Elisa Jaeger of Middletown, CT and his constant companion and dear friend Ellie Root of Weston. He was predeceased by his daughter, Wendy.

The Family will be scheduling a celebration of life ceremony and mass on April 23 at 10 a.m. at St. Mary’s Church 26 Dodgingtown Road, Bethel, CT.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to, Dorothy Day Hospitality House, 11 Spring St. Danbury, CT 06810.