Joseph Sheffey Jr.

Ledyard — Joseph C. Sheffey Jr. passed peacefully in his sleep in the early hours of Monday, Jan. 1, 2018, at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Washington, D.C. The son of the late Joseph C. Sheffey Sr. and Susie Roane, he was born and educated in Montclair, N.J. He was 85 years old.

Mr. Sheffey’s life was one of service to his community and to his country. He would serve his country for 21 years as a submariner in the U.S. Navy, retiring with the rank of Chief Petty Officer — Weapons.

One of his Naval career highlights was official recognition from U.S. Naval Command for the success of his Race Relations Program in 1973, which was subsequently implemented nationally.

Mr. Sheffey was very civically active in the local community during his over 40 years as a Connecticut resident. He served for several years on the Southeast Connecticut Regional Planning Agency (SCARPA); the Montville Board of Education; the Ledyard Town Council; the Southeast Connecticut Small Business Council; and as Groton Branch 20 Fleet Reserve Association President (1972-1973).

Mr. Sheffey was also the former chairman of the Child Adoption Resource Agency (CARA Kids — now known as Connecticut Adoption Services/Project Connecticut’s Child (PCC), which he co-founded with his late wife, Barbara.

Mr. Sheffey and his wife, Barbara, moved from Connecticut to Maryland in 2006. He was a resident of Lanham, Md., during the last years of his life.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 57 years, Barbara Ann Turner Sheffey; sisters, Ethel and Constance Sheffey; and brothers, William, Emmett, and Leonard Thomas. He is survived by his children, Andrea Celeste Sheffey, Joseph Christopher Sheffey III, and Brian David Sheffey, as well as four grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild, in addition to a large extended family and many friends.

A date for military interment is currently pending from Arlington National Memorial Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are being provided by McGuire Funeral Service Inc. of Washington, D.C.