[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 215 (Tuesday, December 14, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1368-E1369]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING THE LIFE OF JOE ZEPPIERI

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOE COURTNEY

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 14, 2021

  Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to mourn and observe the 
passing of a passionate family man and faithful community servant, Dr. 
Joe Zeppieri of Groton, Connecticut. A dedicated member involved in 
local politics, Joe passed away on December 4, 2021 after 77 full and 
loving years. His loss is significant for the Town of Groton.
  Born to Paul Zeppieri and Ella Buonanno Zeppieri in 1943, Joe was 
destined to live an accomplished life with a strong sense of duty. He 
was a lifelong learner who graduated from Groton's own Fitch High 
School and went on to attend several institutions of higher education 
including Providence College, Tufts University School of Medicine, and 
the University of Connecticut School of Medicine before immersing 
himself with a career in the medical field. Within those years of 
schooling, Joe was able to reconnect with his childhood sweetheart, 
Paula, who would shortly thereafter become Mrs. Zeppieri in 1967. 
Grounded by these roots, Joe went on to serve our country in the Navy 
as a Lieutenant Commander as both a doctor on the USS John Marshall and 
then chief medical officer on the USS Fulton. Upon completing his stint 
in the Navy, Dr. Zeppieri settled back down in the Town of Groton. He 
used his penchant for knowledge to help other people with their own 
health and well-being, working in the field of orthopedic surgery all 
the way into the new millennium.
  Of course, simply one field of expertise would never have been 
sufficient for someone such as Joe. Upon his retirement from the 
medical field, Dr. Zeppieri reinvigorated his passion for education. He 
completely shifted gears, working hard to obtain yet another degree 
from Western New England--this time, in the field of law. Paula and the 
family remained his rock during this period, and he was sure to 
gravitate back home every week while working to achieve his new merits. 
After obtaining a JD from Western New England, Joe worked at the local 
law firm of Stephen M. Reck and Scott D. Camassar before opening his 
own firm. He operated in the incredibly complicated field of medical 
malpractice, adding another notch to his belt of service by advocating 
on behalf of those who received improper healthcare in the courtroom. 
As a retired doctor himself, Zeppieri had a perspective that enabled 
him to become a natural success in this new line of work and hold his 
former industry to fair standards.
  Outside of the courtroom, Joe Zeppieri's care for his fellow 
community members really began to shine through into his latest years. 
He always had his finger on the pulse of Groton, leading him to 
municipal service on the City of Groton's Board of Zoning Appeals. In 
2017, he was elected town councilor--a form of service that he would 
keep up with until his final days. Fellow Groton residents and 
stakeholders that were lucky enough to have known or collaborated with 
Joe can attest to his loving character, his integrity, dependable 
expertise, fairness, and ability to keep the discussion level-headed. 
At the end of the day, Joe was someone who could be relied upon to 
advocate for and focus the discussion on the community services that 
held the greatest impact on the health and vibrance of the Groton 
community.
  Madam Speaker, it is an honor to know of constituents as dedicated as 
Dr. Joe Zeppieri. Joe's service to his community has taken several 
forms--whether it was through the Navy, medical field, courtroom, or 
municipal government. His greatest contributions, however, originated 
from his honed expertise, which enabled him to change the lives of 
countless individuals forever. Though we mourn the void left in his 
wake, we ought to remember Joe's lifelong contributions and the value 
he placed in the things that truly have an impact on people's lives for 
the better. In that sense, we should also find gratitude in the 
strength of Joe's family ties and trust that his surviving family--his 
wife Paula, children Christopher, Michael, and Laura and their 
respective partners, and nine grandchildren--and his fellow community 
members will reverberate the memory and legacy of Joseph Zeppieri for 
generations to come. To assist in this endeavor, I ask that my 
colleagues and the House join me in setting Joseph Zeppieri's memory 
further into stone, and thank him for his life full of love and 
service.

[[Page E1369]]

  

                          ____________________