Emil Balusek Sr.

After a blessed 100 years, 6 months, and 28 days on earth, God called Emil Balusek, Sr. to heaven on the afternoon of May 7, 2018 to be reunited with the love of his life and our mother Stella who passed away November 28, 2013. He was born a first generation American to Frank and Josephine Balusek on October 9, 1917 in Derby and raised in Shelton, CT. Just think of what he was a witness to in his lifetime! Although Brown University expressed interest in him, graduating high school at the depth of the Great Depression meant college was not an option. In1939 after graduating trade school while also working odd jobs he secured a job at Bridgeport Brass, working as a machinist. World War II erupted and even though he worked at a defense plant he enlisted in the US Navy as a Seabee and was deployed to the Pacific Theater. After the war, he returned to work at Bridgeport Brass. He would be promoted to lead man, foreman, and general foreman of the tire valve division. He purchased a lot in Nichols in 1948 that he discovered while commuting from his home in Shelton to his workplace in Bridgeport. With the help of his father and in-laws, he built a home in1950 and raised our family; a home that he would peacefully pass away in. After leaving the “Brass” in 1974, he would enjoy his employment at Omega Engineering in Stamford from 1975 to1983 as plant manager, putting his fingerprint on bringing their outsourced work back in house where he layed-out and established a completely new machine shop. He was personally involved with the training of the new machinists because he loved to pass on the knowledge he had gained over the years. He was also instrumental in the development of an employee profit sharing plan for “his” machinists. He had a passion for photography and gardening. He was also a diehard surf caster from the 50’s into the early 70’s, tying his own deer tail jigs, casting his custom made rod, and wading the shore from Norwalk to Stratford, depending on the early morning or late evening tide. He and our mom enjoyed spending Saturday evening’s together ball room dancing. Upon his retirement he devoted even more time to his yard and garden. He loved tending to his vegetable garden and sharing the fruits of his labor with the neighborhood. He always had a smile on his face and had a knack to make you smile too. He was a founding parishioner of St. Catherine of Sienna parish and a lifelong fan of the New York Rangers and Giants. He is survived by two children Emil Balusek Jr. and his wife Anne Cottle of Trumbull and Brian and Ann Balusek of Winnetka, IL, and three grandchildren Meryl, Elisabeth, and Gwendolyn Balusek (daughters of Brian and Ann), along with some nieces and nephews. Friends and family are invited to attend a memorial service on Saturday June 16 at 10:00 a.m. at the Cyril F. Mullins Funeral Home, 399 White Plains Rd. Trumbull. Inurnment to follow in St. Michael's Cemetery, Ansonia CT. Friends may greet the family on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service. Memorial contributions may be made to the Cooperative Extension Anniversary Fund https://uconn.givecorps.com/causes/1084-uconn-extension. These people answered a lot of tough questions our dad asked over the years about his lawn and garden.  

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