- Details
- Category: Current Issue
DAYVILLE — Eugene (Jim) Wilfred Lajoie, 95, died May 9, 2022. He was the husband of Elise Marie (Liz) Lajoie for 68 years. He was born in inn 1927 in N. Grosvenordale, to the late Exeas and Alice (Bellerose) Lajoie.
He enlisted in the U.S. Navy Dec. 13, 1944. Jim served our country honorably assisting in the construction of the main runway at the U.S. Naval Air Station in Subic Bay, Philippines, where his son-in-law’s (Michael) Marine Squadron landed jet fighters years later in the 1980s, a testament to the quality of his work.
He was honored with the American Theater Medal, the WWII Victory Medal, and the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Medal with star.
He was an active member of the American Legion.
Jim’s service to our country did not end there, starting as a basic carpenter at General Dynamics (Electric Boat) in Groton.
Jim eventually rose to the level of Superintendent of Carpentry responsible for more than 1,000 employees.
In a parting act of respect, on the day of his retirement, he had the honor of “pulling the trigger” to physically launch the Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS Alexandria (SSN 757). She is one of many nuclear submarines he helped build to continue the protection of our nation.
They lived for a while in Florida. He played softball in a community league until he was 75 and ran the weekly bingo for 25 years with his brother by his side, famously known as the “Lajoie Bingo Brothers”.
He and Liz eventually returned to Connecticut in 2020 to be with their extended families.
In addition to his wife, he leaves three daughters; Carol Foster (Craig) of Glastonbury, Sandra Dowell (Michael) of Montgomery, Texas, and Karen Lajoie of S. Windsor; brothers Roland “Pete” Lajoie of Dayville and Paul Lajoie of Quinebaug; six grandchildren: Christopher, Erin, Matthew, Amanda, Casey, Caitlin; and his great-grandson, Ashton. He was predeceased by his parents and siblings, Phillip Lajoie, Gerald Lajoie, Norman Lajoie, Lorraine Breault, Claire Bossier, Theresa Beauregard, Rachel Gibson, Margaret Piekarczyk, and Louise Robbins.
The Mass of Christian Burial was May 13 in St. Joseph Church, N. Grosvenordale, with burial in St. Joseph Cemetery.
Donations: Alzheimer’s Association at act.alz.org in lieu of flowers. Valade Funeral Home and Crematory, 23 Main St., N. Grosvenordale.
.