Charles E. Wrinn

Longtime Active

Newtown Resident

Charles “Chuck” E. Wrinn, 82, husband of Phyllis “Pat” (Murphy) Wrinn, died September 28, at Danbury Hospital following a brief illness. He was born in Meriden March 16, 1924, the son of Edward and Marie Wrinn.

Following a three-year service in the US Army Air Corps during World War II, Mr Wrinn graduated from the University of Connecticut in 1948 with a bachelor of science in electrical engineering.  A registered professional engineer with the Connecticut Light & Power Company, he progressed from sales and engineering to field and staff management. Throughout his  39 years with the utility, his primary focus was economic development. Shortly after his transfer to the Stony Hill office he became active with the Danbury Industrial Corporation, serving as its president from 1983 to 2002.  In 1969 he was a founder of the Housatonic Industrial Corporation, a nonprofit certified development company under the Small Business administration. In 1983 he was elected president of the organization, which he continued to the present day.

Mr Wrinn was a board member of the Savings Bank of Danbury,  Natural Resources Council of Connecticut, Housatonic Valley Regional Economic Development Partnership, US Small Business Administration Advisory Board, Ancell School of Business Advisory Board, Connecticut Economic Development Association, Northeast Industrial Development Association, and the National Association of Development Companies. He also assisted further community growth through Immaculate High School of Danbury,  as member of the Development Advisory Board, as finance chairman for St Rose Church of Newtown, and committee member for the Northern Fairfield County Boy Scouts of America annual dinner. A recipient of numerous accolades, Mr Wrinn also received the Team Connecticut Lifetime Achievement Award from the state trade association for community development professionals in 1999.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by five sons  and their wives, Michael and Vivian of Portland, Ore., Joseph and Terri of Woodbury, Jonathan and Nancy of Wichita, Kan., Robert and Lee Ann of Thousand Oaks, Calif., and Philip and Ann of Cherry Hill, N.J.; 17  grandchildren; a brother, Edward of Meriden; and sisters Kathryn of Hartford and Jane of West Kingston, R.I. His son Charles and a brother, Thomas, predeceased him.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held at Sacred Heart Church in Southbury on October 3. Interment followed at the St Rose Cemetery in Sandy Hook.

Contributions in his memory can be made to the Danbury Hospital Development Fund Cardiac Care Unit, 24 Hospital Avenue, Danbury CT 06810.

Arrangements in care of the Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street, Newtown.

The Newtown Bee        October  6, 2006