Dr Joseph Peter Freeman, of Newtown, passed away suddenly on October 8, at the age of 88, after courageously battling a short illness at Yale New Haven Hospital. Joseph, also known as “Joe” and “Buddy” to many, was born on January 11, 1933, to Joseph and Gertrude Freeman in Newark, N.J., and was raised in West Orange, N.J., where he attended primary and high school.

Joe attended Seton Hall University where he earned his bachelor’s degree and MBA, and where he was a pitcher for the Seton Hall Pirates baseball team. Joe later received a Doctor in Science degree in management systems from the University of New Haven in Connecticut.

At the beginning of Joe’s professional career, he held business management positions at Remington, General Foods, General Electric, and Wells Fargo Security. In 1982, Joe founded a successful home automation and security consulting and market research company named J.P. Freeman & Company, of which he was CEO for 30 years until he retired in 2012. Joe held positions as the director of the Security Industry Association, chairman of the International Biometrics Association, and chairman of the Home Automation Association. During his professional years, Joe also taught college courses in business management and marketing at Western Connecticut State University, University of Bridgeport in Connecticut, and New York Institute of Technology.

Joe was a veteran of the United States Army and proudly served two years in the 101st Airborne Division during the Korean War and was trained as an expert rifleman and weapons handler.

Joe spent 62 years with the love of his life, his wife Lucille, who shared his love and commitment to their family. Joe is survived by his four children who adored him and whom he cherished: Joseph, Jennifer, Mary (James), and Megan (George). He is also survived by his beloved sisters, Kathleen and Geraldine; his granddaughter, Olivia, and step-granddaughters, Amber, Iesha, and Anna-Marie; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Joe is predeceased by his parents and sisters, Bettyann and Nancy.

Joe modeled a well-lived active life and approached each day with a sense of purpose and positivity. He will be dearly missed by his family who treasured his kind nature, strength of character, gentle humor, and optimistic, playful, and adventurous spirit. Though he left us entirely too soon, his strength and wisdom will live on through his legacy and he will live in our hearts and memories forever.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 5 pm on Sunday, October 17, at the Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street, Newtown. A funeral mass will be celebrated on Monday, October 18, at 10:30 am at St Rose of Lima Catholic Church, 46 Church Hill Road, Newtown. A graveside service with full military honors will be conducted at the Newtown Village Cemetery, 20 Elm Drive, Newtown.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, stjude.org, or Shriners Hospitals for Children, lovetotherescue.org.

“What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.” —Nelson Mandela