Joseph A. Walz

Joseph Andrew Walz, Jr. (90), died at home on April 6, 2017. He was born in Jersey City, NJ in 1927, the son of Florence and Joseph A. Walz, Sr. Joe enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1945 and was involved with the "Manhattan Project" during WW II. He graduated from Rutgers University in 1949 (BSEE) and the University of Pittsburgh in 1954 (MSEE). He was selected to the Phi Beta Kappa honorary fraternity while at Rutgers. He and his wife Jeanne (deceased in 2001) married in New Jersey in 1951 and settled in Groton, CT. His professional career began with Pittsburgh Power and Light. Soon after he began a long career in Groton with General Dynamics/Electric Boat where he was involved with the "Silent Sub" reactor development project in Arco, Idaho, then a Project Manager for the fast attack submarine SSN-685 Glenard P. Lipscomb and finally as Director of Radiological Services. He was a member at the Shennecosset Yacht and Beach Clubs until retiring to his homes in Freedom, NH and Avon Park, FL where he married his second wife Alma in 2006. Joe resided at the Crystal Lake Club of Avon Park, where he became a member of the Home Owners Association, the Men's Golf League and the Crystal Notes Chorus Group. Previously, he was a deacon at the First Church of Christ Congregational in Groton, a Groton RTM member, appointed to the Groton Utilities Commission in 1972, and appointed as the Groton City Representative on the Board of Directors at CMEEC in 1983. He enjoyed skiing, golfing, card games (especially Bridge), carpentry, traveling and afternoon Happy Hour. He also coached in the Groton Babe Ruth League during his sons' playing careers. He is survived by his wife Alma and his sons Jonathan (Jon) and his wife Maribeth of Rancho Bernardo, CA; Joseph III (Andy) and his wife Sheila of Groton, CT; and James (Jim) and his wife Denice of Jackson, NH; seven grandchildren; Rebecca (Chris) Young, Jessica (Dan) Dorsey, Justin, Jenna, Joseph IV, Jake and Jesse Walz; and four great-grandchildren; Nolan and Ryder Young, and Lilly and Hudson Dorsey. He attended Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church of Avon Park, Florida where a funeral service will be held on April 21st at 10am. A memorial burial service is being planned during the summer at the Elm Grove Cemetery in Mystic, CT. In lieu of flowers, a contribution in his memory can be made to the Our Lady of Grace Church of Avon Park, Florida www.ologap.org or Good Shepherd Hospice of Sebring, Florida www.chaptershealth.org