Joseph E. Navin Sr.

Joseph E. Navin Sr., 85, beloved husband of 58 years of Mary {Devine} Navin and founder, and former owner and operator of Navin Bros. Food Service, Inc. died Wednesday August 3, 2005 in West Hartford. Born in Torrington, the son of the late Thomas and Helen Conran Navin, he had made his home in West Hartford since 1948. He was an Army veteran serving with the 86th Black Hawk Div. during the Battle of the Bulge and later in the Philippines. Mr. Navin began his career with his father, delivering groceries. After WW II, with his brothers, he operated a lunch wagon, eventually opening Navin?s Canteen on Willow St. in East Hartford. In 1954 he earned food service contracts with local industries, such as, The Allen Manufacturing Co., Whitney Chain, Whitlock Manufacturing, and Curtis Manufacturing. In 1959 Navin Bros. won the contract for food service at Rockledge Country Club in West Hartford, continuously operating there until 1972. In 1961 Mr. Navin contracted to operate the cafeterias at Northwest, East and the former South Catholic High schools, a relationship that continues to this day. By 1970, Navin Bros. was operating 12 parochial high school cafeterias throughout Connecticut. With his son Joe, Jr., and daughter Rosemary they have expanded the business to the 5 boroughs of New York City and into New Jersey. Mr. Navin is a long time parishioner of St. Thomas the Apostle Church. He was an avid golfer and former member of the Country Club of Farmington, as well as the Old Guard. Besides his wife Mary he is survived by his daughter and son-in-law; Sheila N. and Don Armour of Niantic; his daughter Sharon E. Navin of West Hartford; his son Joseph E. Navin, Jr. and his wife Suzanne of West Hartford; and his daughter Rosemary N. Dowd and her husband Cornelius of Wethersfield. His six grandchildren Amy Leeds and her husband Ted, Alyson Webb and her husband Jason, Kerry Armour and her fiancé Ken Anderson, John Dlugoenski, Jr. and his wife Ternie, Joseph M. Navin and Patrick M. Navin, two great grandchildren Ally and Teddy Leeds and his sister and brother ?in-law Dorothy and Charles Stickney of Waterbury, as well as a sister in law Mary M. Navin of West Hartford, also survive him. He was predeceased by his brothers Thomas and Francis. The funeral will be Saturday August 6, 2005 beginning with the celebration of his funeral mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 A.M. in St. Thomas the Apostle Church 872 Farmington Ave. West Hartford. Burial will be in Mt. St. Benedict Cemetery Bloomfield. Calling hours are Friday From 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at the Molloy Funeral Home 906 Farmington Ave. West Hartford. The family would like to express their gratitude for the kind and loving care Joseph received from the staff at the West Hartford Health and Rehab Center. Donations in his memory may be made to St. Thomas the Apostle School 25 Dover Road West Hartford, CT 06119, Connecticut VNA Hospice 111 Founders Plaza, East Hartford CT 06108, or the American Parkinson Disease Association/Connecticut Chapter 27 Allendale Road, North Haven Connecticut 06473 .