Ed Janiszewski

November 4, 2019

Edward J. Janiszewski died peacefully on November 4, 2019. During his 91 years and ten days, he touched many lives – through his music, his family, his work, and his play. Edward's glorious baritone singing voice was a gift, and the sharing of it brought him great joy – in theatrical and operatic productions in his early years, and later as a longtime cantor and soloist at St. Timothy's church in West Hartford, where he and his family were parishioners for over 56 years. He sung dozens of brides and grooms down the aisle and accompanied the liturgical farewells of dozens more. For many, Christmas wasn't Christmas until they heard dad, Eddy, Mr. J., sing "O Holy Night" at midnight mass. Edward was born and raised in Milwaukee Wisconsin and attended Marquette High School and Marquette University prior to settling with his family in West Hartford in 1963. He was the fourth son of Kasimir and Zofia Janiszewski and was proud of his Polish heritage and the company his immigrant father built after coming to America. Superior Steel, a branch of which he founded in Cheshire, Connecticut and ran for many years, continues to this day under the leadership of the third generation of Janiszewskis. Ed was a past president and member of Wampanoag Country club for over 50 years, where he enjoyed countless rounds of golf and hands of cards. But his most gratifying acts at Wampanoag were founding the Northwest Catholic Golf Tournament in 1977, which remains a hugely successful annual fundraiser for the school, and ending several policies that were exclusionary to women and those seeking new membership. Ed's family meant the world to him, and he leaves cherished memories in the hearts of his beloved wife of 67 years, Phyllis, and his seven children and the families they created, including eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren (with a third due to arrive shortly). They are: his son, Chip Janiszewski and daughter-in-law, Nancy, and their two children, Matthew and Billy, along with Billy's wife, Sandy Chau; his son, Phil Janiszewski; his daughter, Julie, and her daughter, Zofia and son-in-law, Mike Taylor, and their two beautiful children, Lily and Isla; his son, Tom and Tom's wife, Patti, along with their son, Christopher and his wife Erin; his daughter, Joan Karas and her children, Lizzy and Jake Karas; his daughter, Mary and son-in-law, Robert Pellino, and their children, Gabriel and Isabella Pellino; and his daughter, Ellen, and son-in-law, Paul Beegle. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated, Friday, at 11:00 a.m. at the Church of St. Timothy, 1116 N. Main St. West Hartford, with a visitation at 10:00 a.m. at the Church. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations in Edward's memory can be made to the church of St. Timothy or Northwest Catholic High School.