Branford Police Honor Jo-Anne McGuigan as One of Their Own

and Branford Police Commission members gathered Monday night to dedicate the department’s firing range to the late Jo-Anne McGuigan who passed away on March 20. In the presence of her daughters Sherry Edwards and Tracy Shamas and her husband Ellsworth McGuigan, DeCarlo chocked up remembering McGuigan. “This range,” he said, “that we are dedicating to her tonight is a small testament to what she actually did here. She was the ultimate spirit of volunteerism and leadership in the town of Branford for many years. This range is one the small things that she did. Every day she did hundreds of things for the Police Department.”

In addition to serving as the Second Selectman for Branford from 1995-97, McGugian served on the Board of Police Commissioners for more than six years and was chair for the last several years.

Her daughters remember her as safety-consciousness and said that safety was one of her focuses in working with the Police Department. The firing rage, which had been inoperable for sometime, was resurrected by McGugian­–her effort to ensure that officers were better prepared for their duties.

McGugian oversaw the building of the new Police Department several years ago and her husband Ellsworth recalls his late wife bringing home architecture plans to study. Ellsworth, the Chair of the town Planning & Zoning Commission, said that it was common for his wife to be so passionate. The firing range, he said, was one of the last projects she worked on before falling victim to stage four cancer.

So dedicated to her work  in town and on the Police Commission, First Selectman Anthony “Unk” DaRos, also present at the dedication, said McGugian was running meetings from her temporary home at Branford Hills during her illness.

Police Commissioner Jill Marcus, shared the same sentiment with DaRos, noting that she would often visit McGugian at Branford Hills to talk “work.”

McGugian’s daughter, Sherry, said her mom’s dedication was something she really looked up to. “Anything anyone needed, she was willing to go the extra mile.”

McGugian’s other daughter, Tracy, whose sons Aidan and Brendan (students at ) were present at the dedication, said, “I am not as strong of a personality as she was. It never ceased to amaze me how she got the phone and got stuff done.”

Though McGugian was a get-it-done woman who had her efforts evident in many town operations, her dedications as a friend, wife, mother and grandmother is what will be missed most.

Said best by her grandson Aidan when the dedication was over and people started to leave: “I just miss my grandma.”