Joseph Trella, 76, died on Wednesday February 13, 2013 at the Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale New Haven. He was the husband of Dorothy (Kopala) Trella her loving husband of 53 ½ years. Mr. Trella was also a resident of Great Hill Lake in Portland, CT. Born July 11, 1936 in Meriden he was the son of the late Peter J. and Aniela (Yara) Trella. Joe graduated St. Stanislaus School, Wilcox Technical School, where he was class Salutarian, and the Hartford State Technical College. He was employed by Pratt & Whitney Aircraft where he was a manufacturing engineer and from where he retired after 35 years of service. To his family and friends Joe was renowned as a domestic engineer, solver of numerous problems, builder of home improvement gadgets and instructor of practical ways to his children and grandchildren. He loved his lake property in Portland, telling funny stories and being surrounded by his children, grandchildren and friends. He also loved crabbing, mushroom picking, crossword puzzles and card games.Joe was a man of immeasurable kindness and good character, and an incomparable role model who will be sorely missed but remembered in immeasurable ways in the hearts and minds of those he departs. Joe spent 7 years in the United States Army Reserves. Active in clubs, Joseph was a long-time member of the Knights of the Blessed Virgin, Our Lady of Czestochowa (Polish Knights), where he held many of its major offices. He also participated in the St. Francis Society of Portland, CT and was a life-long member of the Polish National Alliance. He was a parishioner of St. Stanislaus Church. Besides his wife Dot, Joe is survived by five children: Kenneth A. Trella and his wife Susan of Meriden, John Peter Trella of Southington, Karl Joseph Trella and Crystal of Wallingford; Karen Mather-Young and her husband Mark of Topsham, ME and Andrea Blakemore and her husband Darwin of Ashland, MA. He leaves 14 grandchildren: Scott Trella, Chelsea Trella, Spenser Trella, Francesca Loparco, Nicholas Mather, Sarah Mather, Jessica Mather, Amy Blakemore, Benjamin Blakemore, Haley Blakemore, Katie Trella, Kaelyn Trella, Elizabeth Young and Sarah Young. He is survived by three brothers: Theodore Trella of Meriden, Ben Trella and his wife Marge of Meriden, Peter Trella of Salem and a sister Emily Bryda of Middlefield. He was predeceased by four brothers: Casimer, Edward, Stanley and Henry Trella; and two sisters: Helen Tone and Stacia Murphy.