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Joseph R. Tulli

Joseph R. “Joe” Tulli, 80, passed away Sept. 26 after 52 years of North Branford residence. The eldest son of Italian immigrants, Edith Clare and Giuseppe Tulli, he was born in 1942, in New Haven before moving to West Haven in 1947.

He attended Gateway Community College, and studied photography at UMass at Amherst, having photos published in both local and national publications. Additionally, he trained with the State of Connecticut Commission of Fire Prevention and Control before serving with the U.S. Army, 729th Railroad Operating Battalion, New Haven. In 1968, he married Beverly Dolan (Tulli) of East Haven, until she passed away in 2001, at Connecticut Hospice. Notch Hill Road in North Branford is dedicated to her memory and in honor of her many years of service as an educator.

Joe’s years of service were also many. In 1976, he joined the North Branford Fire Department. During that time, he became an emergency medical technician and was a charter member of the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians. In 1988, he became a member of Northford Company 2, serving as a lieutenant for four years, was elected a member of the board of Fire Commissioners for two terms and served as a member of the board of directors of the South Central Connecticut Emergency Medical Services Council for two terms. During his time with Company 2, he was appointed the chairperson for the company’s 50th anniversary celebration in 1994, before joining the Branford Fire Police, retiring as squad captain after 10 years. During his many years of service, Joe was highly decorated, being awarded the 2007 Salute to Connecticut’s Bravest Firefighter of the Year by the Connecticut District Exchange Club and official citations by the State of Connecticut General Assembly and Lt. Gov. Michael Fedele for Firefighter of the Year.

Joe also had an exciting career as an engineer working with several top Connecticut companies including Pratt and Whitney Aircraft in North Haven, Sargents in New Haven, United Nuclear in New Haven and Montville, and Avco-Lycoming in Stratford and Hamilton Beach in Waterbury. He also worked as a draftsman for numerous local businesses during his 40-year career. With many varied interests, Joe was a member of the Tall Bearded Iris Society, New Hampshire Doberman Rescue League and the Housatonic Fly Fishermen’s Association.

Joe was preceded in death by his brother Phillip Tulli who passed in June of 2022. He is survived by his brother Raymond and Wei Tulli of Florida; his brother and sister-in-law. John and Sheree Dolan of Northford; nephew Justin Tulli of North Branford; nephew Joshua Dolan of Northford; and nieces, Courtney Szumilas of Wallingford, and Kelly Dolan Wee of North Branford.

A Mass with Special Intentions will be said for Joe at 9 a.m. Friday, Oct. 14, at St. Monica Church, 1331 Middletown Ave., Northford. In lieu of flowers, donations in Joe’s memory may be made to Donate Life CT or the Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter.