William Jervis

Groton— William E. Jervis, 68, of 75 Shennecossett Parkway, Groton, passed away at home on Aug. 8, 2015, surrounded by his loving family.

Bill was born Aug. 24, 1946, in Norwich, the only child of William Alfred Jervis and Sabina (Salamucha) Jervis.

On Oct. 23, 1968, he married the love of his life, Joyce N. Jodoin, at St. Mary’s Church in Groton. They resided their entire marriage in the City of Groton, where they raised their family of three wonderful daughters.

Bill joined the Groton Town Police in 1974, and worked his way up from patrol officer to lieutenant before retiring in 2007, after 33 years of service. He was a tireless community servant. During his tenure, Bill created activities for youth at risk: co-founded the Groton Maritime Academy, was president of the Connecticut Maritime Education Foundation (2002-2007), co-founded the Groton Adolescent Substance Abuse Prevention Task Force, was vice president of the Boys and Girls Club of Southeastern Connecticut (1997-2012), was a former board member of the Women’s Center of Southeastern Connecticut, designed and ran the Town Police Community Policing Program, and worked with the community to provide occupational and recreational opportunities for young people. He initiated the Groton Domestic Violence Prevention Task Force and co-founded the Groton Business Association. Additionally, he was a former president of the AFSCME Local 3428, former president of the Groton Kiwanis Club, and a member of the Groton Elks Club. Bill was elected in May 2015 to his fourth term on the Groton City Council, also serving as deputy mayor and chairman of the Groton City Democratic Committee.

An avid naturalist and botanist, hewas also a voracious reader, spoke many languages, and was a former beekeeper. Education played a central role to this lifelong learner: Bill held a bachelor of science degree in sociology, a master of science in management, and a Ph.D. in psychology, graduating summa cum laude. Bill was also a member of Mensa. With all of Bill’s accomplishments and commitments, he still found time to be aworld traveler, a generous and devoted husband, father, and grandfather, and maintained a wonderful and unique sense of humor all the while. Bill was a true patriarch. His family always came first. Anyone who knew Bill was aware of his honesty, integrity, endless drive, dedication, and compassion, which made him everyone’s confidant and go-to guy. Bill’s passion for living life to the fullest and leaving this world a better place will be greatly missed by all.

Bill is survived by his loving wife, Joyce; daughters Erin Jervis Steele, Melanie Jervis Barnett and husband, Philip, and Beth Jervis-Simpson and husband, Brian; and nine grandchildren, Evan, Phoebe, Christian, Owen, Olivia, Tate, Jillian, Audrey, and Nolia.

His family will greet relatives and friends from 4 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 12, at the Dinoto Funeral Home, 17 Pearl St., Mystic. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 13, at St. Mary Mother of the Redeemer Church, 69 Groton Long Point Road, Groton. Burial with full military honors will follow in Elm Grove Cemetery, Mystic.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the William. E. Jervis Scholarship Fund, c/o Charter Oak Federal Credit Union, 1055 Hartford Turnpike, Waterford, CT 06358.

Westerly— Isaac Gallup Smith Jr., 93, a lifelong resident of Westerly, died Sunday, Aug. 9, 2015, at The Westerly Hospital. He attended Quarry Hill School, a three-room schoolhouse with two grades in each room, Babcock Junior High School, and Westerly High School, graduating in 1941 and serving as marshal of his class. He enrolled in a post-graduate program at Avon Old Farms. After a summer working at Electric Boat, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in October of 1942 and served as a crewchief repairing landing gear on B-24s for the duration of the war.

He leaves behind his wife, Gertrude (Schwabe) Smith, a part of his life since 1938, when he noticed her skating on the park pond and was intrigued. Not long afterward, while sliding on Cross Street, she introduced herself by throwing a chunk of icy snow at him. He asked her to go sliding with him and that was the beginning of a lifelong romance. They became engaged before he entered the service and were married on Sept. 18, 1943, at Calvary Baptist Church on Elm Street.

Returning from the war in November of 1945, he entered the apprentice stone cutter’s program at the Smith Granite Co., completed his apprenticeship in 1949, and became a journeyman stone cutter. He joined the National Granite Cutter’s Union, a part of the AFL, and became secretary of the local branch. He worked at Smith Granite Co., Joseph Coduri Granite Co., and Bonner Monument Co.

In 1959, he left the granite industry to become a draftsman at Electric Boat, retiring in 1983, as facilities manager. A highlight of his time at EB was the building of the Midway facility for which he was construction supervisor. He sought to solve all issues with a win-win situation, treating all parties with respect.

Isaac served his community in many roles. Hewas president of the Elm Street School PTA, foreman of the Alert Hook and Ladder Co., candidate for Town Council, and, as a member of the Westerly Power Squadron, teacher of sailing and navigation courses.

He was a charter member of Central Baptist Church and was honored to serve as chairman of the Board of Deacons, chairman of the Board of Trustees, and moderator of the church under three different pastors.

Isaac served as a trustee of the Westerly Public Library and Wilcox Park for nine years. As a member of the building committee for the 1993 addition, he worked to “Save the Bay” by helping develop plans to incorporate the bay window of the story-telling area of the children’s room into the new east wall. Later he worked in an advisory capacity when the bay was moved to the north