Joseph Michael Giordano, 81, of Clinton, died on Jan. 3 after having coffee with his buddies in the local coffee shop where he spent most mornings prior to going to work. He was the husband of the late Cosette Giordano, who predeceased him in 2008. Joe was born in New London on June 25, 1931, son of Sicilian immigrants, the late Michele Giordano and Giuseppina DeGange Giordano. He graduated from Bulkeley School in New London in 1949 and went on to the University of Connecticut, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in accounting in 1953.

After graduating from UCONN, Joe enlisted in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War, served honorably, and was discharged in 1956. He moved to Clinton after that time and worked at Chesebrough Ponds in the accounting department, where he met Cosette Ethier and married her in 1959. Joe remained a Clinton resident from that time on.

After his wife’s death, Joe continued practicing as a certified public accountant in Clinton, where he was in solo practice for more than 40 years. He continued working right up until the day of his death.

Joe’s “old school” New England work ethic was second to none, and he loved his work and clients. He was a member of the Westbrook Elks Lodge for more than 46 years and a member of St. Mary’s Church in Clinton for more than 50 years, having married his wife Cosette there.

Due to his loyal and trustworthy nature, Joe had many friends and clients, especially Louis Campanaro, Larry Case and Carl Swan, all of Clinton, and Kenny DeMattis of Madison. In addition, Anthony Citerella, CPA of North Haven, Dr. Mark Abel of New York City, Peter Schmardel of Oxford, and Chris Funk of Clinton were all considered to be “second sons” by Joe.

Joe was deemed by most of his friends and clients as the most loyal and faithful person they ever knew. He was a devoted family man and friend who could always be “counted on” to be there for all of the people who were fortunate enough to have known him either as a friend or client, and he will be dearly missed by them and the entire Shoreline community from New Haven to Rhode Island, where he worked and lived his entire life.

Joe is survived by his brother, Dr. Russell Giordano of Old Lyme; a son, Dr. Michael Giordano and his wife Jane of Clinton; his daughter, Giselle (Giordano) Taylor and her husband, Peter of Westbrook; and five grandchildren, Lauren, Angela, Anna, Joseph, and Nathan Giordano, all of Clinton. Besides his wife Cosette, whom he cared for at their home for more than 20 years while she suffered from multiple sclerosis, he was predeceased by his sister, Angelina (Giordano) Johns of New London.

His funeral procession left the Swan Funeral Home, Clinton, on Jan. 7 for a mass of Christian burial at St. Mary’s Church of the Visitation in Clinton. Burial with full military honors took place in St. Mary’s Cemetery.