Wethersfield Obituary: William Lopez, 67

William Gary Lopez, 67, of Wethersfield, passed away on February 21, 2018 at St. Francis Hospital following a brief illness.

He was born on September 22, 1950 in Hartford and spent his formative years in Bolton. He graduated from Eastern Connecticut State University in 1973 and earned advanced degrees in Public Administration and Marriage and Family Therapy at the University of New Haven and Southern Connecticut State University, respectively.

For three decades, Gary worked with distinction and retired from the Connecticut State Police as head of the Crimes Analysis Unit. He also worked for many years, part-time at East Hartford Youth Services.

Gary was predeceased by his parents, William and Anna Lopez; grandmother, Florence Marco; brother, Scott Lopez; and sister, Cheryl Schreindorfer. He leaves his fiancée, Wen Yan Schwartz; sisters, Pamela Franeski and brother-in-law, Peter Franeski; Cindy Lou Lopez and Bonnie Lee Lopez; along with numerous nieces, nephews and other extended family.

Gary had many dear and devoted lifelong friends. Among them, Marty and Victoria Soovajian, Alice lacobucci, Lilli Lopez and Ed Daly, were with him providing comfort and assistance in his last few weeks, as were his loving and caring fiancée, Yan, and sister Cindy Lou, who were with him in his last moments.

Gary was fiercely loyal and possessed a kind heart and a great strength. He was always there for those he cared for, and his concern for others far outweighed any struggle he was going through. A unique individual with wide-ranging eclectic interests, he enjoyed the arts, sports, politics, music, movies, travel, reading and conversation. Intelligent, well-spoken and an excellent writer, he possessed the "gift of gab" and could carry on discussion with anyone on virtually any topic.

He loved spending time at his beach retreat in Rhode Island, and more recently, in Florida. Gary and Yan traveled extensively in China, and discovered that they loved their new adventures cruising the Caribbean. Gary was a keen observer of the human condition with an off-beat sense of humor.

A great listener, he possessed wisdom mixed with common sense, and when asked, provided compassionate, on target advice. Most of all, he was a wonderful, loyal, honest, trustworthy friend who could be counted on in every situation. He will leave a gaping hole in the hearts of those who loved him so dearly. Gary was very much a spiritual person with strong affiliations with the Men's Prayer Breakfast at the First Church of Christ in Wethersfield and St. Andrew's Lutheran Church in Charlestown, RI.

Service followed by interment will take place on Saturday, March 3, 2018 at 10:00 AM at Rose Hill Funeral Home, 580 Elm Street, Rocky Hill.

Donations in Gary's memory and in lieu of flowers may be made to St. Andrew's Lutheran Church, 15 East Beach Road, Charlestown, RI 02813.