George Madsen
George Marcus Madsen, 87, of Bloomfield, CT, and formerly of Woodbury and Roxbury, CT, beloved husband for 64 years of the late Mary Mercedes (Bull) Madsen, passed away on Tuesday, March 16, 2021, surrounded by his family in Bloomfield. Born in Brooklyn, NY on January 10, 1934, son of the late Marcus Nicolay and Loretta Carmella (Lake) Madsen, he moved to Connecticut with his family as a young boy. The family settled on a farm next to the Wooster School in Danbury, which George later attended (Class of ‘52), before continuing his education at Williams College where he received a B.A. in Philosophy. In his senior year at Williams, George met Mary Bull, then a student at Skidmore College. The young couple instantly fell in love and married three months later, on December 30, 1955.
After graduation, George returned to Danbury, Connecticut and took over his family’s business, Mideastern Envelope Company. He and Mary started a family and raised three children. At the age of 49, he followed his entrepreneurial spirit and sold the business to pursue a myriad of interests and passions. George then spent many years as a developer and investor, including co-founding Danbury Bank & Trust. He later served for many years in a variety of positions for the First National Bank of Litchfield, among them Secretary of the Board and Chairman of the Trust Committee.
George gave back to the community he loved. He was the chair and trustee at his alma mater, Wooster School, where he served for 40 years, and on numerous boards, including the Danbury YMCA. While living in Roxbury, he was an active member of the Roxbury Land Trust, ten years as president, and the Roxbury Library Building Committee. After moving to Woodbury, George served on the Conservation Committee and the Library Board of Trustees, as well as the Democratic Town Committee.
While succeeding in business, George always made time for his family, which was paramount in his life. He shared with his wife and children his love of learning, the arts, and adventure. He and Mary were lifelong lovers of musicals and theater, and frequently took their children and later grandchildren to New York City to see shows. His many interests led him to backpack, hike, camp, and ski around the world, and he loved spending time on the water – sailing, flyfishing, and ice boating. George and Mary led very full lives and surrounded themselves with a wonderful community of lifelong friends everywhere they went.
He leaves three children, Catherine Madsen and her husband Joseph Barckett of Dartmouth, MA, William Madsen and his wife Rev. Dr. Sandra Fischer of North Granby, CT, and Sarah Madsen of Hancock, VT; five grandchildren, Carlin Hosmer Tripp and his partner, Nicole Adriance of Rumford, RI, Rachel Madsen and her husband Alejandro Carrillo of Sayulita, Mexico, Naomi Madsen and her fiancé Hector Otero of Brooklyn, NY, and Trey and Claire Madsen, both of North Granby, CT; three great-grandchildren, Arrow Rose and Oriana Tripp and Lila Mourino Madsen; two sisters, Barbara DeHart of Rochester, VT, and Marie Dupree and her husband Keith of New Milford, CT; a nephew, Jonathan Dupree and his wife Lisa of Danbury, CT, and a niece, Sarah Estelle Dupree and her partner George Dunham of Falling Waters, WV. Besides his wife and parents, he was predeceased by his brother-in-law, Edward DeHart. A memorial service to celebrate George’s and Mary’s life will be held on Saturday, June 19, 4 p.m., at the Wooster School Chapel, 91 Miry Brook Road, Danbury, CT.
Throughout his life, George supported and donated to numerous progressive and environmental charities. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Southern Poverty Law Center, 400 Washington Ave., Montgomery, AL 36104 or by visiting www. splcenter.org; or the American Civil Liberties Union, 125 Broad Street, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10004 or by visiting www.aclu. org. For future service information as it becomes available and online condolences, please visit, www.carmonfuneralhome.com.