Dennis Hallahan
— Dennis John Westbrook Hallahan passed away peacefully at his Westbrook home March 11, 2024, at the age of 89, surrounded by loving family. Born Jan. 13, 1935, in New Haven, as the son of Francis and Marie Hallahan (Verdyck; later Halovatch). He married his high school sweetheart, the late Jean Rose Hallahan (Cote) on Aug. 26, 1956. Afflicted with polycystic kidney disease (PKD), Jean was lovingly cared for by Dennis until her passing in 2011.
He served as a draftsman in the U.S. Navy from 1954 to 1956. In 1960, he received an engineering degree from the University of Bridgeport. He moved to Westbrook in 1961, after being hired as a nuclear test engineer at the Electric Boat division of General Dynamics in Groton. He worked with EB for 19 years, then joined Proto Power, a New London-based nuclear management consulting firm for 21 years, until his retirement in 2000.
Originally from West Haven, he has been an active resident of Westbrook since 1961. Public service was always a priority in his life, especially as a moderator of town meetings. He was elected to the Westbrook Board of Education and served for six years (four years as chairman) and as a member of the Westbrook Board of Finance for 20 years (chairman 12 years). He also participated on, or led, several school construction and renovation committees, as well other town committees and boards. With the Democratic Town Committee, he was once proclaimed “Person of the Year.” Additionally, he was a volunteer with the Westbrook Ambulance Association and was also a member of the Westbrook Elks.
As a priority, he was an ever-present supporter of the sports and musical/cultural activities of his children and grandchildren. And, of course, he always anticipated the annual Hallahan Family summer vacation, a weeklong gathering of over 35 family members, at various locations throughout the Northeast, a tradition which recently celebrated its 30th year. He was an avid boater and sailor, and just loved being out on the water, at Off-Soundings sailing weekend competitions, or on his classic MacKenzie wooden vessel, named “Picnic.” He was treasurer of the Mackenzie Boat Club. He also enjoyed cheering on the Red Sox and the UConn lady Huskies basketball team. At Saint
Mark the Evangelist, he served for many years as a church lector. He was an avid reader, especially of naval strategic operations. Daily, he would spend time at Bill’s Seafood or The Highliner
Café, to meet friends and try to solve the world’s problems. He embraced his Irish identity, most notably by marching in the NYC St. Patrick’s Parade with Quinnipiac University.
Dennis, aka “Poppy,” is survived by his children: Michael of North Haven, Steven and his wife Nancy of Lyme, Kathleen and her fiancée Richard DeGenova, of Old Saybrook, Christopher and his life partner Nancy Krug of Westbrook, Patricia Cade and her husband Adelbert of Middlefield, and Dennis F. and his wife Sharon of Old Lyme. In addition to his 16 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, he also leaves a half-brother, John Halovatch, and his wife Lynn of Wallingford; a sister-in-law Aldona Cote of North Haven; and various cousins, nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends, including his 67-year-long friendship to his Best Man, John Sullivan of Hamden.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, March
21, at the Robinson, Wright & Weymer Funeral Home, 34 Main St. in Centerbrook. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday, March 22, at Saint Mark the Evangelist Church, 222 McVeagh Road, Westbrook. Interment with the rendering of full military honors will be privately held Saturday, March 23, at Beaverdale Memorial Park in Hamden. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his name to the PKD Foundation, PO
Box 871847, Kansas City, MO 64187 or at www.pkdcure.org. To share a memory of Dennis or leave condolences for the Hallahan family, please visit www.rwwfh.com .