The publication is reproduced in full below:
HONORING THE LIFE OF JOE ZEPPIERI
______
HON. JOE COURTNEY
of connecticut
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, December 14, 2021
Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to mourn and observe the passing of a passionate family man and faithful community servant, Dr. Joe Zeppieri of Groton, Connecticut. A dedicated member involved in local politics, Joe passed away on December 4, 2021 after 77 full and loving years. His loss is significant for the Town of Groton.
Born to Paul Zeppieri and Ella Buonanno Zeppieri in 1943, Joe was destined to live an accomplished life with a strong sense of duty. He was a lifelong learner who graduated from Groton's own Fitch High School and went on to attend several institutions of higher education including Providence College, Tufts University School of Medicine, and the University of Connecticut School of Medicine before immersing himself with a career in the medical field. Within those years of schooling, Joe was able to reconnect with his childhood sweetheart, Paula, who would shortly thereafter become Mrs. Zeppieri in 1967. Grounded by these roots, Joe went on to serve our country in the Navy as a Lieutenant Commander as both a doctor on the USS John Marshall and then chief medical officer on the USS Fulton. Upon completing his stint in the Navy, Dr. Zeppieri settled back down in the Town of Groton. He used his penchant for knowledge to help other people with their own health and well-being, working in the field of orthopedic surgery all the way into the new millennium.
Of course, simply one field of expertise would never have been sufficient for someone such as Joe. Upon his retirement from the medical field, Dr. Zeppieri reinvigorated his passion for education. He completely shifted gears, working hard to obtain yet another degree from Western New England--this time, in the field of law. Paula and the family remained his rock during this period, and he was sure to gravitate back home every week while working to achieve his new merits. After obtaining a JD from Western New England, Joe worked at the local law firm of Stephen M. Reck and Scott D. Camassar before opening his own firm. He operated in the incredibly complicated field of medical malpractice, adding another notch to his belt of service by advocating on behalf of those who received improper healthcare in the courtroom. As a retired doctor himself, Zeppieri had a perspective that enabled him to become a natural success in this new line of work and hold his former industry to fair standards.
Outside of the courtroom, Joe Zeppieri's care for his fellow community members really began to shine through into his latest years. He always had his finger on the pulse of Groton, leading him to municipal service on the City of Groton's Board of Zoning Appeals. In 2017, he was elected town councilor--a form of service that he would keep up with until his final days. Fellow Groton residents and stakeholders that were lucky enough to have known or collaborated with Joe can attest to his loving character, his integrity, dependable expertise, fairness, and ability to keep the discussion level-headed. At the end of the day, Joe was someone who could be relied upon to advocate for and focus the discussion on the community services that held the greatest impact on the health and vibrance of the Groton community.
Madam Speaker, it is an honor to know of constituents as dedicated as Dr. Joe Zeppieri. Joe's service to his community has taken several forms--whether it was through the Navy, medical field, courtroom, or municipal government. His greatest contributions, however, originated from his honed expertise, which enabled him to change the lives of countless individuals forever. Though we mourn the void left in his wake, we ought to remember Joe's lifelong contributions and the value he placed in the things that truly have an impact on people's lives for the better. In that sense, we should also find gratitude in the strength of Joe's family ties and trust that his surviving family--his wife Paula, children Christopher, Michael, and Laura and their respective partners, and nine grandchildren--and his fellow community members will reverberate the memory and legacy of Joseph Zeppieri for generations to come. To assist in this endeavor, I ask that my colleagues and the House join me in setting Joseph Zeppieri's memory further into stone, and thank him for his life full of love and service.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 215
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