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Jerome John Havrda

Jerome John Havrda, 85, of Killingworth, formerly of Madison, passed away peacefully July 29. Jerome was born in the Bronx, New York, on March 16, 1937 to Jerome Sr. and Emily Havrda. Jerome leaves behind his beloved wife Carol Mazeiko Havrda; his brother Charles Havrda; his five daughters: Melissa Blundon and her husband Bob, Gretchen Golub and her husband Larry, Carolyn Havrda and her husband John Freeman, Jennifer Banaletti and her husband Steven, and Hayley Marcous; his seven grandchildren: Meredith Blundon Young, Rachel Blundon Quintin, Abby Blundon, Wyatt Marcous, Milly Marcous, Jack Banaletti, and Maxx Golub; and four great-grandchildren: Jameson and Quintin Young and Charlie and Cole Blundon Quintin; as well as his stepdaughter Beth Munafo, her husband Paul, and their extended family.

Jerome was a larger than life kind of guy, in character as well as physical size. He grew up in Milford. He learned the craft of meat butchering from his father and worked at the A&P grocery store. Jerome played football on a full scholarship at Boston College and later for the U.S. Marine Corps. He was a very proud Marine.

He began his work career with IBM before moving to Madison in 1969, where he bought and merged printing and mailing companies to become Bell Lucas, which eventually became Automatic Printing and Mailing. After retiring from the printing business, he got his real estate license.

Jerome was active in Madison town politics, serving as a Selectman. He was also a volunteer on the council board of the Boys Scouts and for Saint George’s Church in Guilford, where he helped distribute food. He loved everything about food, from grocery shopping, to growing vegetables, to cooking and sharing a meal with friends and family. Jerome also loved boating on the Long Island Sound, fishing and tending his lobster pots.

There will be a Celebration of Life for Jerome at 2 p.m. Aug. 20, at Living Rock Church, Killingworth. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Foundation for Prader-Willi Research (FPWR) or the Alzheimer’s Association.

Jerome’s family would like to express their appreciation for the loving care given to him by the Apple Rehab-Guilford staff.