Joseph J. Soltys

Joseph J. Soltys, 89, of Storrs, CT., passed away Thursday Nov. 11, 2010. Born Feb. 9, 1921 in Haydenville, Mass., Joe moved to Storrs with his wife, the late Elizabeth, in 1959 when he was named Sports Information Director at the University of Connecticut. He served as SID until his retirement in 1984 and won many national awards for his UConn game programs and media guides. He remained an avid Husky fan and frequently attended men's and women's basketball games. He and Elizabeth were happily married for 51 years. He served on the NCAA's public relations committee, as the Yankee Conference's chief statistician, and on the Town of Mansfield's Recreation Advisory Committee. He faithfully attended St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel for 51 years where he served as a Eucharistic Minister the past decade and was an officer for their Knights of the Round Table. Joseph served as a Petty Officer Third Class in the U.S. Navy during World War II and held civil service jobs with the Navy in Boston and the VA in Northampton, Mass. He was sports editor of the Northampton Gazette from 1956-59. Joe is survived by his three children: Anne Otto and her husband Bob of Willimantic; Judy DiCristofaro and her husband Don of Hingham, Mass; and Michael Soltys and his wife Teresa of Southington. Joe had six grandchildren that he adored: Devin DiCristofaro and Katie, Sean, Christie, Jason and Benjamin (predeceased) Soltys. Joe had six brothers and sisters and is survived by Cecelia Allaire and Tony Soltys. His family will receive relatives and friends on Wednesday Nov. 17th between 5:00 and 8:00pm at Potter Funeral Home 456 Jackson St. (Rte. 195) Willimantic, CT. His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday at 10:30am at St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel, North Eagleville Rd., Storrs. Interment will follow in Storrs Cemetery. Joe may be remembered with donations to St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel Scholarship Fund, 46 North Eagleville Rd., Storrs, CT. 06268. For online memorial guestbook and directions to the funeral home, please visit www.potterfuneralhome.com .