Joseph Aldon Lareau, 73, of Fairfield, Conn., and formerly of Darien, Conn., Gilford, N.H., and Vero Beach, passed away on July 20, 2015.
He is survived by his three loving children: daughter Jennifer Anne Crotty (Patrick) of Darien, Conn., and two sons, J. Bradford Lareau (Amy) of Guilford, Conn., and J. Scott Lareau (Janice) of Fairfield, Conn. He was a caring grandfather to seven grandchildren: Maggie Rose Crotty, Dillon, Jack, and Sean Lareau, and Tatum, Quinn, and Jane Lareau; his sister Puddi Kullberg (Richard) and his sisters and brother-in-law: Judy Doran (Richard), Karen Caputo (Mike) Clarke, and Kevin Ege (Sue) Stegmeyer, as well as many nieces and nephews.
He is predeceased by his wife Patricia Ege Lareau, who just recently passed on June 15, 2015, and his brother Donald Lareau.
Born in Yonkers, Lareau was raised in Bronxville, N.Y., and he was the son of Alice and Donald Lareau (Al don). He graduated from Georgetown University in 1964 with a B.A. in History and received his MBA from Rutgers University in 1966. He went on to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) through New York University.
Lareau’s first job was at the accounting firm of Arthur Young. He was then an accountant, then President at Color Film Corporation, based in Stamford and Norwalk, Conn.
He grew up experiencing summers in New Hampshire on Lake Winnipesaukee and in the White Mountains, fostering a love of the outdoors that would last his whole life. When not waterskiing, sailing, or hiking during these New Hampshire summers, he was found working at local restaurants like Karl’s of Weirs Beach, N.H. Winters at the lake house helped nurture his love of winter sports like skiing, a sport he passed on to his family.
Lareau enjoyed sailing tremendously, whether on a Laser or later sailing in regattas and competitive racing with the Noroton Yacht Club. He also competed in South Ocean Racing Conference (SORC).
As a father and teacher, he spent many years instructing his kids how to sail, waterski, and motorboat around the lake. Lareau was an accomplished house renovator and took on many daunting house projects, often ignoring warnings from friends and families who did not have his vision of potential. He and his renovating partner, his wife Patty, became experts at turning worn down structures into stunning homes.
He enjoyed traveling with friends and family to many places across the country and world. He was the ultimate planner of all trips, researching endless possibilities for fun and adventure whatever the destination. While he traveled with family and friends extensively, his favorite companion for travel was his wife, Patty, and their later trips to France were very special to the two of them.
Lareau donated his time to the community by serving on the Board of Family and Children Services in Darien, Conn. He became an accomplished golfer in his adult life. He was a member of both Darien Country Club in Connecticut, where he served on the Board of Governors, and Hawks Nest Country Club in Vero Beach, where he served as President of his golf group, “The Aldoneers.”