Obituary: Chester C. Hardisty, 83, of Woodbury

Chester C. Hardisty, a lifelong Woodbury resident, died unexpectedly on Thursday, August 2, 2012, at Hartford Hospital.

Hardisty was born on October 25, 1928, to Chester and Estella Hardisty in Sharon, Conn. He was the beloved husband of Gertrude (Cassidy) Hardisty.

He graduated Woodbury High School at the age of 16. As a high school student, he had a part time job at Carl & Walt, which inspired his lifelong love of vehicles and their maintenance.

Next, he started his own refuse business and shortly thereafter, he built the first two package stores in Woodbury.

Hardisty then served in the U.S. Army Motor Pool from 1950 to 1952. Upon returning, he began his lifelong career as a developer in Woodbury. In 1954 along with his mother, he purchased the , Connecticut’s Oldest Inn.

In 1963, he built Woodbury’s first elderly housing complex at 19 Judson Ave. In 1968, he started Woodbury’s first daycare center, Woodbury Child Care Center.

In the early ‘70’s Hardisty developed Cedar Hollow () and ran the Camelot Hearth restaurant, all while building his wife’s dream home. In the 1980,s he developed the industrial properties on Bacon Pond Road.

Hardisty was best known for his outspoken political views and dry sense of humor. He was actively involved in town politics. He was a participant in every town election, whether he was running or not. He was the chairman of the first Historic Commission and served on the Zoning Commission and the Elderly Housing Commission. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Gertrude (Trudy) Cassidy Hardisty, his stepmother Evalina of Stamfordville, N.Y., brothers Raymond, Gary and John, all of Woodbury; and is pre-deceased by his sister, Betty Peck. He leaves six children and their spouses: JoAnne and Paul Wislocki of Middlebury, Kathryn and Raymond Walauskas of Woodbury, Gerald and Marti of Andover, Susan and Thomas Hanrahan of Shelton, T.J. and Nick Brennan of Woodbury, and Christopher and Robin of Watertown.

He will be greatly missed by his eleven grandchildren: Mike Wislocki, Kate Reilly, Karen Moreira and Peter Walauskas, Samantha and Rachel Hardisty, Jestelle and Emma Hanrahan, Theresa, Nicholas and Wyatt Brennan, and his three great- grandchildren Sean, Kyle and Abigail McCormick. He was predeceased by his granddaughter Kimberly Wislocki McCormick.

He will be fondly remembered by his in-laws, some out-laws, a lot of nieces and nephews, countless cousins and many friends.

Calling Hours: 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday, August 12, at , 750 Main St. South, Southbury, Conn.

Memorial Service: 11 a.m. Monday, August 13, at , 910 Main St. South, Southbury. Burial will be at the convenience of the family.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the , P.O. Box 561, Woodbury, CT 06798 or plant a tree in his memory.