It is with great sadness that we announce Mr. Alan H. Jepson passed away on Monday, July 27, 2015 at 89 years old. Born to the late Dr. Chauncey and Alice Piercy Jepson in Hartford, CT on May 28, 1926 Alan grew up in Stratford, Connecticut during the depression. While at Stratford High School, when WWII started Alan dropped out of high school at the age of 17 to enlist in the United States Navy. During the war, he served as a signalman on a destroyer, the U.S.S. Collett, assigned to duty in the Pacific theatre and in the task force that fought at Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Until recently, sailors on the U.S.S. Collett gathered frequently from around the country to celebrate their service and their connection to each other. After discharge in 1946, he returned to Stratford, CT, finished high school and went on to Boston University and earned a degree in communications. During that time, he met and married Mary Elizabeth (Betty) Pettingell in 1948, who had graduated from Tufts University in the Boston area. After college graduation, Alan worked for a time in broadcasting before moving to Junior Achievement as a Program Director, first in Bridgeport and then in Massachusetts. He then became Executive Director Junior Achievement of Greater New Haven and the family returned to Connecticut and settled in Milford in 1956. His roots in Milford began to take firm hold as he immediately became involved with the PTA at Point Beach School, St. Peter’s Church, the Pond Point Association and the Milford Democratic Party. In 1957, he expanded the Junior Achievement program into Milford as well. As Executive Director of the Citizens Action Committee in New Haven, working with Mayor Richard Lee, Alan shifted his energy and work into municipal politics and leadership He was appointed Chair of the Charter Revision Commission in Milford, which worked to change Milford from a Town with a town manager to a city with an elected mayor. Mr. Jepson was elected Mayor of Milford in 1963, 1965 and 1967 serving three terms. During his tenure as mayor, Milford celebrated it’s 325th birthday with celebrations, parades, festivities and costumes around town, including the famous “Brothers of the Brush” movement which encouraged all men and boys of shaving age to don facial hair. Later, he successfully ran for City Clerk of Milford for 22 years until his retirement at age 82 in 2008. Elected every two years, for most of those elections he was unopposed and endorsed by the opposing party. Other positions he held before being elected to the office of City Clerk serving as the Democratic Connecticut State Auditor and as Block Grant Administrator in Milford. Along with his devotion to the civic and political life of his adopted home town of Milford, Alan was an avid sea lover and was a 25 year volunteer with Flotilla 73 Coast Guard Auxiliary, teaching seamanship and boat safety. He loved going out on Saturdays with the boat, responding to sailors in distress in Long Island Sound. A longtime member of the Milford Rotary Club and former President, it was only the in the last year that he stopped attended regular weekly meetings. He was engaged with the American Red Cross and a former President, a member of the WWII Veterans Memorial Committee, the United Way, served as Senior Warden and other roles and choir member at St. Peter’s Church, the Boy Scouts of America and numerous other civic organizations in town. In 2001, he was awarded the “Living Treasure” Award by the Milford Junior Woman’s Club. Sometimes called “Mr. Milford”, Alan was a popular and visible figure around town for over 50 years. One of his favorite things was dressing as Uncle Sam and speaking about liberty and patriotism at the Fourth of July celebration in Milford. A fixture at the Rotary Club Lobster Bake, he also was an amateur cook and made a famous onion soup which has been enjoyed by many around town. For many years, on Easter morning, he organized a breakfast for the choir in between services at St. Peter’s Church to honor his mother, a choir member at St. Luke’s Church in Stratford during her lifetime. He loved the city of Milford, it’s people, and it’s commitment to being a supportive and connected community. “The best people in the world live here” he would often say. A loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, he is survived by his daughters Linda Jepson Swadener and her husband Stephen of Panama City Beach, FL, Susan Jepson of Stoneham, MA, Margot Jepson of New Paltz, NY, Nancy Demoulley and her husband Greg of Denver, CO and Paula Gudell and her husband Scott of Sunderland, MA. In addition, his Grandchildren: Jennefer, Kevin, Julie, Melissa, Patrick, Tom, Ryan, Sarah, John, Carter and Grayson along with great grandchildren Noah, Elijah, Ashler, Ella, Oliver and Jake and Lily. Beloved uncle of Bruce and Robin Jepson of New Jersey and Alan Jepson of California. Besides his parents, he is predeceased by his devoted wife Mary “Betty” Elizabeth Pettingell Jepson and his younger brother Robert Jepson. Calling hours are Monday, August 3rd from 2pm to 7pm at the Smith Funeral Home, 135 N. Broad St. Milford. A funeral service will be held at St. Peter’s Church, 71 River St., Milford on Tuesday, August 4th at 10:30am. MEET DIRECTLY AT CHURCH. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to St Peter’s Church or the Milford Library, 57 New Haven Ave, Milford, CT 06460. To leave condolences or for directions, please visit our website @ www.georgejsmithandson.com