John D. “Jack” Groves, 71, of North Branford, passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 30, 2016 at Yale New Haven Hospital with his family by his side. He was the beloved husband of 48 years to Josephine Calandrelli Groves. Jack was born in Grafton, West Virginia on June 27, 1944; son of the late John D. Groves, Sr. and Jayne Damiano Groves Palmieri. He obtained his Bachelor’s degree from the former Quinnipiac College; worked at SNET Company for 28 years; was the founder of Partner Communications in 1996 until his retirement in 2005. Jack was a member of the Alpha Chi Rho Fraternity was a founder of the Shoreline Youth Football, active with North Branford Little League and youth basketball where he served as a board member and coach, President of the North Branford Touchdown Club; was an avid golfer, was a NY Yankee, Giants and UCONN Huskies fan. Jack enjoyed following his grandchildren in sports and dance recitals and loved them all unconditionally. Father of Jennifer (Domenic) Liuzzi, John D. (Tracey) Groves III and Jeff R. (fiancé Lisa Cohen) Groves. Gampa of Francesca, Pasquale, Nadia and Gianpaolo Liuzzi, Gabriella and Gavin Groves. Brother-in-law of Paul (Arlene) Calandrelli. Predeceased by his step-father Phillip Palmieri.
His funeral procession will leave the North Haven Funeral Home, 36 Washington Avenue on Friday morning at 10:15. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated in Our Lady of Pompeii Church at 11:00. Interment will follow in All Saints Cemetery. The visiting hours will be Thursday from 4 to 8 PM. Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 825 Brook Street, 1-91 Tech Ctr. #3, Rocky Hill, CT 06067.
Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
I miss you and always keep you in my heart. What a great kid you were and I was blessed to have lived under the same roof with you for years! Many memories of our youth! A great cousin and a great man! Rest in peace Jack????????
Babe and John: So sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you and all your family.
COUSIN JACK WAS ALWAYS JOKING……THIS IS WHAT I WILL ALWAYS TREASURE AS A GREAT MEMORY…..HE ADORED HIS WIFE BABE …AND EVERYONE KNEW IT…HIS CHILDREN GROWING UP …WAS HIS PRIDE AND JOY …THEN HIS GRANDCHILDREN CAME ALONG ..THE LIGHT OF HIS LIFE…..THE SPARKLE IN HIS EYES.AS HE TALKED…ABOUT THEM….WE WILL MISS HIM …BUT WE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER ALL THE FUN AND GOOFINESS OF COUSIN JACK..WITH MUCH LOVE AND GREAT ADMIRATION FOR BABE AND CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN…….WE WILL ALWAYS KEEP HIM IN PRAYER ALONG WITH ALL OF YOU …..
Josephine, Jen, John, and Jeff,
Kristen and I extend our deepest sympathies to each of you on Jack's passing. What a privilege to have known such a kind and generous man. We hope that with time your grief will be tempered by the many wonderful memories of him. Our thoughts are with you during this most difficult time.
I love you guys all very much and I'm deeply sorry for your loss. Jack was a great man and someone whom I had great respect for, as a man a father and a grandfather. I will miss him.
REST IN PEACE MY FRIEND, WE WILL MISS YOUR LAUGHTER AND WIT. WE ENJOYED BIENG IN YOUR COMPANY.
My parents were long time neighbors of Jack. I now live in the house again on williams road. Remember when he bought the house from my uncle Dick Finley. So sorry for your loss.
andrea and mike porto
I am so sorry to hear of Jack's passing. My most sincere condolences to Babe and your children. May your wonderful memories of happy times bring you comfort at this difficult time. Heaven has another angel.
We are so sorry for you loss and you all are in our thoughts and prayers.
God bless. He will be smiling down upon you all and watching over you.
He is at peace.
Jeff and family
I am so sorry for your loss. You are all in our thoughts and prayers .
Lisa
Jack was a fraternity brother, a business partner and a great friend for over 52 years. When he suggested I apply for a job at the phone company in 1969, we had no idea of the profound impact it would have on our lives and on the lives of so many others as well. We played hard, we worked hard, and we shared the unbelievable experience of starting a business and making it successful!
Most of all, we had lots of laughs and made many great memories along the way! It was one hell of a ride Brother Groves! RIP
Kal
Mr/ coach Groves was one of the best coaches and person I have met. I will never forget what he taught me as a player and as a young kid growing up! Sorry for your loss my heart goes out to his family and friends.
Jen ,Domenic,and family we like you to know that our thoughts and prayers are with you at this devasting time. Our condolences to your mom. we met your Dad and Mom along with Domenic's Mom for the first time at grandparents day at the high school, we all sat together we could see what a special person he was . It was also nice having our granddaughter Marina and your daughter Francesca take care of us it s a nice memory.Marina always spoke so highly of him. ❤️
John, my thoughts and prayer are with you and your family during this difficult time
Jack, I will miss you every day of my life until we meet again. I wish you were not taken from me so soon we had so much planning and now my heart is broken. I know you tried your hardest to stay with us but God had other plans for you. You were the best husband, father grandfather, uncle, brother in law any one could ask for. I love you and will miss you forever. But I am so bad because this is like a nightmare for me not being able to see you or talk to you my heart is broken, Love you forever ♥♥♥♥♥♥
I knew John from SNET, and continued to interact with him as my customer when he (and Bill Kaliszewski) started Partners. I had a great deal of respect for Jack, and enjoyed working with him. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, he will be greatly missed.
Sorry we missed the wake. We did not know of your father's death. With the deepest
respect and sympathy. We will keep him in our prayers.