Longtime resident remembered as dedicated community servant

TORRINGTON — A neighbor of Kevin Purcell described the longtime resident as “a genuine good egg,” and that sentiment was shared by many who knew him.

Purcell died Tuesday at Wolcott Hall nursing home in Torrington. He was 76.

Margaret Franzi, the food manager at FISH, Torrington’s food bank and shelter, described her friend and former boss who once served as the executive director, as “always kind.”

“He was very sincere, always had a kind word, always asking about us. He always had that big smile,” Franzi said.

Franzi said Purcell was very concerned about the elderly and disabled city residents not having enough food.

“He was instrumental in providing food to bring to the elderly, especially,” she said. “That was a big thing for him. Someone called his wife, Lucille, and said, ‘there are people who can’t get out for food,’ Kevin said to me, ‘Margaret, we need to do this.’ And we said, ‘OK Boss’. We always called him ‘Boss.’ He was also dedicated to the handicapped and disabled. He knew when they were coming for food, and he’d tell me,” Franzi said. “And if you needed something, he was very willing to listen. He was a very laid back person.”

News of Purcell’s death was on everyone’s mind by Thursday. His wake is Friday afternoon at Gleeson-Ryan Funeral Home and will be followed by a funeral service Saturday morning.

Purcell was married to Lucille Romani Purcell for 55 years. Survivors, in addition to his wife, include his daughter, Celeste M. Purcell-Turner; his son, Kevin B. Purcell and wife Beth, all of Torrington; a brother, Mark V. Purcell of Middletown; six grandchildren, Alexis Turner, Gianna Purcell, Anastasia Purcell, Isabella Purcell, Madison Purcell, and Khari Purcell; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. Kevin Purcell was predeceased by a brother, Richard Purcell, and sister-in-law, Doreen (Battistoni) Purcell.

Purcell-Turner was a bit overwhelmed by the outpouring of sympathy and kindness from the Torrington community. On Thursday, she and the rest of the family were making funeral arrangements and answering the phone and doorbell, as people arrived to offer support and pay their respects.

Purcell-Turner said her father’s work with the disabled — a 35-year career with the state Department of Developmental Services — led her and her brother, Kevin, to go into similar jobs when they became adults.

“My brother and I both work with people with developmental disabilities — it runs in the family,” she said. “I was introduced to it when I was a kid and I grew up with it. He often had people who didn’t have anywhere to go for the holidays, and they were here in our home. ... He did a lot of things like that.

“He never said no, basically,” Purcell-Turner said. “He was selfless. Brooker Memorial was also important — the child care center was his thing. He also loved the Rotary Club tremendously.”

Purcell’s daughter is learning more about her father from the stories people have shared during the last few days.

“There’s so much he did that I never knew about,” she said. “All the connections he made . ... It’s been great.”

Kevin Purcell was born in Belmont, Mass., on June 28, 1942, son of the late Harry B. and Pearl E. (Luce) Purcell, and was an area resident for most of his life.

Along with his membership with the Torrington and Winsted-area Rotary Club, where he was named a Paul Harris Fellow, Purcell was a member of the Torrington Lodge of Elks and the Germania Singing Society. In his early years, he was a drum major for the Torrington Vagabonds. He was vice president of the Board of Managers and chairman of the Child Care Committee at Brooker Memorial, and a former board member of the Warner Theater. He participated in many Rotary functions, including annual golf tournaments and the Winsted Pet Parade.

Owen Quinn, executive director of United Way of Northwest Connecticut, is secretary of the Elks Club and a Rotarian who worked closely with Purcell for many years.

“Honestly, I can’t remember not knowing Kevin Purcell,” Quinn said. “I’ve known him in two capacities. One was as a member of the Elks — he was a longtime member, and his father and his brother were both past exalted rulers, trustees and founding member of the lodge. He was so proud of that membership and of the youth activities they do. It mirrored his life in the community. He volunteered for many things and took his membership very seriously.”

Purcell’s passing Tuesday was also the day of the Rotary Club’s regular meeting. “We met that day, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the room,” Quinn said. “At the end of the meeting, we ring a bell, and last week the club members brought the bell to the nursing home and rang it, and gave him a citation in honor of his membership. (Member) Mike Magistrali suggested going and doing that, because we knew his time might be near . ... He was so happy to see us. That was very good, that we were able to do that.

“He was very with it, too,” Quinn said. “He was talking to everyone, asking how they were, asking what was going on in their lives. That’s how he was.”

Laura Sabia, who lives across the street from the Purcell family, remembers her neighbor as a goodhearted man.

“He was so dedicated to so many organizations, and he was like that as a neighbor, too; he had the same generosity of spirit,” she said. “When my mom died some years ago, he was sending food over and checking on us. He walked the walk and talked the talk. He was a genuine good egg.”

Purcell-Turner thanked the nurses and staff at Wolcott Hall for their care.

“The care he got at Wolcott Hall was exceptional, and the hospice nurses, too — I can’t say enough about them,” she said. “This is how it had to be (having him at Wolcott) and it was done right. He was comfortable and safe.

“It was tough for him, but when he finally accepted the fact that he wasn’t going to be able to come home, he was OK,” she said. “He was in a good place, and that was important to my mother. They were married for 55 years and they stuck by each other through thick and thin.”

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Gleeson-Ryan Funeral Home, 258 Prospect St., Torrington. Burial will follow in Hillside Cemetery, Torrington. Friends may call Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. and Saturday morning from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at GleesonRyan Funeral Home.

At the request of the family, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Brooker Memorial Child Care Center, 157 Litchfield St., Torrington, CT 06790.

Contributed photo Kevin Purcell