It is with great sadness that we announce that Stafford Chester Mead, Sr, died unexpectedly on Saturday, June 19, in Holyoke, Massachusetts, where he had been living for the past two years. Stafford was born in Port Chester, N.Y., on July 14, 1923, to the late Mary and Elmer Mead. He is predeceased by his three sisters, Doris, Mary, and Gloria, and his brother, James.

He attended school in Port Chester and proudly served in the United States Army during World War II. He was stationed in the Aleutian Islands and India. He married the love of his life, Virginia DeVitta, and for 70 years raised a wonderful family, put their children through Catholic schools and college, vacationed every year in Daytona Beach, Florida, and the Jersey shore, built their dream home in Putnam Valley, N.Y., and enjoyed life to the fullest. Stafford was a welder by trade and worked for Georgia Pacific and Steel Style Pools for many years.

Formerly of Peekskill, N.Y., Mom and Dad relocated to Brookfield, Conn., where they lived for many years to be closer to their son and help in raising their cherished granddaughter, Victoria, after her mother passed at a very early age.

He leaves to cherish his memory his very loved children, Virginia Mead Webb of Holyoke, Massachusetts, and her husband, Ralph, and Stafford Chester Mead, Jr, of Sandy Hook; the other loves of his life, his two beautiful granddaughters, Adair Rivest and her husband, Matthew, of West Springfield, Massachusetts, and Victoria Noordhoek and her husband, Jeremiah, of Boston, Massachusetts. He also leaves his two great-grandsons, of whom he was so proud and received so much pleasure in watching them grow, William Matthew Rivest and Henry Stafford Rivest, who will carry on his great-grandfather’s name. Stafford also leaves his sister-in-law, MaryAnn Rose; his brother-in-law, Francis DeVitta, and his wife, Nola; his loving niece, Lynn Caravella of Woodstock, N.Y.; and several nieces and nephews.

A private service was held for the family.

To leave a message of remembrance, please visit carpinocares.com.