Joseph Henry Stagg, Iii

Joseph Henry Stagg III, always known as Jerry, died on July 31, 2022 at the age of 82 in Bridgeport, CT, the same city where he was born on November 6, 1939. He was predeceased by his parents Joseph Henry Stagg Jr. and Elinor Lusk Stagg, and his sister Susan Stagg Goff.

Jerry credited The Unquowa School, his grade school, with forming his character  and love of learning. He went on to graduate from the Hotchkiss School and Brown  University where he studied history and was on the golf and swimming teams.

From 1962 to 1965 Jerry served in the U.S. Navy, an experience he felt gave him  indispensable skills to manage people. He left the navy with the rank of LTJG to begin  work in the “real” world at Hawley Industrial Supply in Bridgeport, a 120 year-old  private industrial supply business run by his grandfather and then his father. Jerry  became President and CEO in 1977.

In 1973 Jerry married Mercedes E. Walker, known as Missy, and resided in Easton, CT where they had two children, Ellen C. Stagg and Joseph H. Stagg IV, known as Jared.

In 2006 Jerry moved to Dennis, Cape Cod and married Judith Titus November.

Over the years Jerry was on many boards including (but not all): Central  Connecticut Coast YMCA, United Way of Bridgeport, Bridgeport Hospital, Bridgeport  Symphony Orchestra, The Unquowa School, National Industrial Distributors Association, Lakeview Cemetery, and Cape Cod Museum of Art.

Jerry’s great joy was researching and planning his extensive international travels to share with his family. He was a collector of many things: more wines than could be consumed in a lifetime, more tweed jackets than could be worn in a season, and more magazines than could be read in a month. He also accumulated button-down shirts, ties, greeting cards, and books. Jerry loved to tell stories about his family, his antique maps, and all his German Shepard dogs, especially his favorite Nike. He was a long-time legacy member of Brooklawn Country Club and played golf across the United States and Europe, including St. Andrews.

Jerry is survived by Judy; his daughter Ellen (Gerald Feliciano) of Brooklyn, NY; his son Jared (Allison), and grandsons Joseph H. Stagg V, known as Kingsley, and Rex D. Stagg of Wilton, CT; and stepdaughter Lisa Sjostrom and grandson Daniil T. Sjostrom of Norwich, VT.

Contributions in Jerry’s honor can be made to Central Connecticut Coast  YMCA, 1240 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT 06511, or to Cape Cod Museum of Art,  P.O. Box 2034, Dennis, MA 02638.