Obituary of Jack Thorpe

Jack Thorpe, age 84 of Seymour, a self employed Public Accountant & Financial Advisor, died peacefully on November 16, 2016 at the Hospice Unit of the West Haven VA Medical Center, with his beloved companion by his side. Born in Ansonia on December 13, 1931, the son of the late John W. and Edith Hey Thorpe formerly of Dewsbury Yorkshire, England. He lived in Woodbridge for many years and grew up in Ansonia, graduated from Ansonia (Pine) High School, class of 1949. Jack joined the US Army while still in high school and entered the service five days after graduation. Jack served with occupation troops in Germany and was a Staff Sergeant with Company C, 18th Engineer Combat Battalion, and was an expert explosive and booby trap engineer. After serving three and a half years in the regular Army, he served eleven additional years in the Army and Air Force Reserves. He was the First Sergeant of the 159th Military Police Battalion out of Hamden, CT. Jack was a graduate of the Non Commissioned Officers (NCO) Academy in Munich, Germany, a special school for selected NCO’s for enhanced leadership development. Jack graduated from Stone Business College in 1956 where he studied Accounting and Tax Law. He also graduated from Open University in Orlando, FL in 1994. He began his own public accounting practice in Seymour in September, 1961. The practice was sold in 1980 to enter into manufacturing and in 1984, he became the President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of GTP Concepts, Inc., in Stratford. In addition, Jack was the Secretary and a Director of Preston Machine Co., Inc., a Director of The Valley Nurses Association, a member and auditor for the BPOE, Ansonia. He was a Director of Precision Metal Fabricating, First Vice President of the Connecticut Association of Public Accountants and served more than 20 years as a member of the Board of Directors and served on many of the committees. Jack was the first Public Accountant chosen from his association to serve (a Governor’s appointment) on the State Board of Accountancy. He was the General Partner of Muskingum Associates, a Wildcat Oil Drilling Co., in Muskingum, OH. Jack was also a General Partner of Trident Trusts, a holding company located in Stratford. He was the Treasurer and Director of Teletech Devices, Inc., of Oxford and Treasurer of CPT Concepts, also of Oxford. He was also an outside advisor to Marvest Securities out of Toms River, NJ. He was appointed to a six year term by the Town of Woodbridge to serve as a Director on the Quinnipiac Valley Health District Board. He was a Director and served as Treasurer of the Woodbridge Land Trust, Inc. Jack was also a Licensed Real Estate Broker, a Licensed Public Accountant, a Licensed Investment Broker, a Licensed Insurance Broker, a NASD Registered Investment Advisor with HD Vest Investments Services, a Certified Mortgage Investor and was enrolled to practice before the Internal Revenue Service. Jack was a member of the Connecticut Association of Certified Public Accountants, National Association of Public Accountants, National & Connecticut Association of (IRS) Enrolled Agents, the Connecticut Association of Notary Public, National Mortgage Investors Institute, Association of Private Mortgage Investors and National Association of Securities Dealers. He was a member of the VFW Post 2871 of Woodbridge and served as Quartermaster, Post Advocate and Trustee. He was a Captain of The Color Guard and a member of the Rifle Squad. Jack grew up on lower Main Street in Ansonia and later his family moved to the North end of Ansonia. Jack organized the North Enders Reunion in 1991, which still meets annually at St. Anthony’s Church in the North end of Ansonia. Jack was proud to be known as the best pinball machine player in the valley while growing up. Before moving to Woodbridge in 1976, he also lived in Seymour and Oxford. Jack was a former member of Christ Episcopal Church, Ansonia and Christ Church of Oxford. Jack served as Vestry Member, usher and served on the Finance Committee of both churches. He later became a member of Trinity Evangelical Free Church in Woodbridge where he has attended faithfully since 1985. Jack was predeceased by a daughter, Julie Ann, and a son, Jeffrey. He is survived by sons, John and his wife Kathy of Southington and Jody and his wife Jessica of Seymour. Also, Grandsons, Justin, Jeremy and Jamie Thorpe; Granddaughters, Jennifer Scioscia and Jasmine Thorpe; Great Grandchildren, Jamie Lynn, Anna Elizabeth and Sadie Grace Thorpe; and Juliana, Madyson and Olivia Scioscia. He also leaves his most loving companion of many years, Barbara Lois Hayes of Seymour, with whom he resided over the past year. He was predeceased by sisters, Gladys Kewalis and Martha Caserta; brothers, Reginald, Harry and Arnold Thorpe. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews, and wanted to offer special recognition to his late nephew Joe Kewalis and his wife, Grace Kewalis of Oxford, for all the help provided over the many years. He wished to extend his thanks to all his friends he grew up with and a hearty thank you to all his clients who put their trust and confidence in his decision making process over many years with their financial and tax matters. And, to all officers, directors, military buddies and all that he had the opportunity to serve and be served, it’s been a life of gratitude and he’s thankful to you all. And, finally, he was so proud and fortunate to be born here in America. God Bless everyone and he will see you when you get home. His love to all. Jack will be remembered at a Memorial Service, including Military Honors, at Trinity Evangelical Free Church, 33 Center Rd., Woodbridge, CT on Saturday, November 26, 2016, at 11:00 AM. A reception will follow at the Church. Private burial will take place in Brookside Cemetery, Oxford with Jeff and Julie. Contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to Trinity Evangelical Free Church, to the Jack Thorpe Memorial Fund. The Wakelee Memorial Funeral Home, 167 Wakelee Avenue, Ansonia is in care of arrangements. Online condolences may be made at www.wakeleememorial.com