Arthur Raymond Mockalis

Arthur Raymond Mockalis, age 86, beloved husband of the late Barbara Anne Blanchard Mockalis died on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, at Sumter Grove.

Born in Hartford, CT, and raised in Manchester, CT, he was the son of the late Roman Mockalis and Marion Jacobs Mockalis.  Arthur served in the US Air Force, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve for over 20 years.  He also had a fulfilling career as an Air Traffic Controller with the FAA as well as a draftsman with the Pratt and Whitney Aircraft Company.  In his younger years, Arthur was a very active runner and trumpet player.  He enjoyed gardening, kayaking, and traveling.  While in Connecticut, he was an active member of the Pistol League.  He enjoyed keeping up with both local and national politics.  He was married to the love of his life Barbara for over 61 years.  A strong man of faith, Arthur and Barbara were very involved members of their church, Notre Dame, in Durham, CT.  He sang in the choir as well as volunteered for many of the charity projects throughout the church.  Arthur and Barbara were also professional clowns and members of the Greater Hartford Clown Alley and would often give performances for the kids in local children’s hospitals.  He was loved by everyone that he met and was known most recently by the nurses that cared for him as “Mr. Smooth” because they claimed he was a smooth operator.  He was the most honest and gentle man you’d ever want to meet.  Arthur’s true joy in life came from spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Surviving to cherish his memory are a son, Jeff Mockalis and his wife Dawn of Sumter; a daughter, Kimberly Cordon of Colorado; a sister-in-law, Carol Mockalis of Vidalia, GA; a brother-in-law, Anthony Blanchard of Ellicot City MD; four grandchildren, James, Benjamin, Isabella, and Elizabeth; four great grandchildren, Cordelia, Hadley, Rosalee, and Camden, and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

In addition to his wife and parents, he is preceded in death by a brother, George Mockalis and a sister, Dorothy Dunn.

A memorial mass will be held at Notre Dame Catholic Church in Durham, CT in the spring.

You may go to www.bullockfuneralhome.com and sign the family’s guest book.

The family has chosen Bullock Funeral Home for the arrangements.

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