Harold J. Parmelee ’59 died on March 25, 2022, in Bloomfield, Connecticut.
(The following was provided by the Hartford Courant on April 5, 2022)
Harold J. “Hal” Parmelee, 84, of Bloomfield, beloved husband of Sylvia (Hogblom) Parmelee, died Friday, March 25, 2022. He was born May 14, 1937, in Middletown, CT. Son of the late Harold Leon and Alice (Stacey) Parmelee, Hal had been married to his loving wife, Sylvia (Hogblom), for sixty-one years. Hal grew up in Haddam, CT. He was a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School (1955), Bowdoin College, and MIT, where he earned a degree in civil engineering, and joined the ROTC. Hal was a lieutenant in the Army Corps of Engineers from 1961 to 1963. Hal was a sportsman and athlete who played baseball and basketball through high school and college. He also played on the Army baseball travel team. Hal enjoyed following the Red Sox and UConn basketball programs. Hal’s business career began with Turner Construction in 1960; he rose to president of Turner Corporation from 1989 to 1999. In his “retirement” Hal worked at JA Jones Construction, Hogblom Builders, Balfour Beatty, and Clayco Construction. Hal was known as a leader who was approachable, supportive, fair, and genuine. Hal loved his work, and cared for the people he worked with. In addition to his wife, Sylvia, Hal is survived by his daughter, Andrea Shotwell, and her husband, Jay; and his son, Harold L. Parmelee, and his wife, Susan (Schroer). Hal was predeceased by grandson Hunter Shotwell, by brother Bill and sister Donna (Bryant). Hal is survived by his brother Charles Parmelee and his wife, Carolyn (Kadrle); grandson Andrew Parmelee and his wife, Lauren (Marchetti), and grandson Matthew Parmelee. There are many other close family members, friends, and colleagues who hold Hal dearly and will miss him.