MONROE, Conn. — Lee Hossler raised funding for the Stepney Heritage Trail and helped build the gazebo on Stepney Green, where he used to read, “Twas the Night Before Christmas” to children at the annual tree lighting. He actively recruited new Monroe Chamber of Commerce members and organized ribbon cuttings to welcome new businesses to town. Many fondly remember him as an active volunteer, a good neighbor and friend.
Hossler, 85, who was once honored as Monroe’s Outstanding Citizen, passed away early Tuesday morning. He leaves behind his wife Dorothy, son Michael, daughter-in-law Kim and two grandchildren, Madeline and Jakob.
Kathy Loehr is president of the Save Our Stepney Task Force, an organization in which Hossler was a charter member. She and her husband, Greg, live across the street from the Hosslers.
“The village of Stepney has lost a truly amazing man in Lee Hossler,” Loehr said. “Greg and I were proud to call him a neighbor and a friend for more than 40 years. He was known for his holiday displays that graced the corner of Hattertown and Stanley roads, bringing joy and a smile to all who passed by.”
“In terms of Save Our Stepney he will be irreplaceable,” she continued. “His in-depth research of Stepney history guided many of our projects. He will be remembered for reading ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’ at the annual tree lighting. As was his devotion to making the Veterans Day ceremony happen on the green. He will be missed by so many.”
Hossler served on the Monroe Economic Development Commission (EDC), including a few years as chairman. He was instrumental in conducting a survey gauging the business climate, and most recently served as ambassador to the Monroe Chamber of Commerce.
“The Chamber is forever grateful for the efforts, dedication, and commitments that Lee made to our town businesses and the individuals that he served in his capacity as ambassador,” said Monroe Chamber of Commerce President Ray Giovanni. “No one did it better representing the organization.”
“Lee was a true gentleman who knew how to treat people with dignity, respect, and give them confidence and advice to help them go forward with their effort to create a successful business and to serve our Monroe residents,” Giovanni said. “He was a great leader serving on the Chamber board for over 25 years.”
Giovanni, who currently serves as chairman of the EDC, said, “I followed Lee’s pioneering efforts to move Monroe forward in a responsible and productive way as he had served for years in this role. Lee was the first to bring the commercial brokers organization to Monroe and took them on a tour of all the open spaces made for commercial development in chartered buses, which created unbelievable results to his credit.”
“Lee Hossler had a deep love for our town,” said Beth Stoller, a member of the Chamber’s board. “It showed in so many ways. He captured its beauty through his pictures and made a point to welcome every new business so that they felt celebrated with a ribbon-cutting and invited to our Chamber. Lee carved out a special niche for himself within our Chamber and took pride in it. He earned everybody’s respect and our community is much better because of him, Lee will be truly missed.”
During the Monroe Chamber’s annual holiday luncheon, State Sen. Jason Perillo, R-Shelton, presented a citation from the Connecticut General Assembly, honoring Hossler for his “commitment to Monroe,” while “enhancing the quality of life for residents.”
State Rep. Tony Scott, R-Monroe, said, “we lost an amazing advocate for Monroe and specifically the Stepney part of town. Lee was an active participant in so many events. It is going to be a huge loss.”
“Lee enjoyed serving others and being busy creating ideas and opportunities for the benefit of all,” Giovanni said. “We will be indebted to him forever for crafting Monroe into what it is today.”
First Selectman Terry Rooney said he recently visited the Hosslers’ home to look at old pictures with Lee for a display at Monroe Town Hall.
“His wonderful wife, Dorothy made cookies, and we had a wonderful visit,” Rooney said. “I’m so thankful we made that time now receiving this heartbreaking news. Lee taught me so much history about Monroe going all the way back to when Stevenson was originally named Zoar.”
“Lee loved this town deeply and always wanted to be part of the solutions,” he said. “He was an amazing human being and was always willing to take on tasks and share some back-and-forth witty banter every time we were together. He cared about businesses’ success, constantly checking in and supporting them through his role with the Chamber of Commerce.”
“Lee Hossler was a true Monroe staple,” Rooney said. “A man who loved his family, his town, and his townspeople. A gentleman of traditional values who always fought for what he felt was right. Lee will be deeply missed by the people who knew and loved him and I speak for myself when I say I lost a buddy. A piece of Monroe is lost forever with the passing of Lee Hossler.”
Former first selectman Ken Kellogg also fondly remembers Hossler.
“It’s no secret that Lee was very devoted to our town, particularly his love for Stepney and his passion for supporting our local businesses,” Kellogg said. “His work as ambassador of our Chamber of Commerce for so many years did not go unnoticed, as he would visit every new business multiple times. He rarely missed a ribbon cutting.”
“On a broader scale, Lee was no stranger to Town Hall,” Kellogg said. “For many years, he was a regular presence at Town Council meetings, always providing his thoughtful input on a wide range of issues during public participation. Lee will be greatly missed in our community. I wish his family peace.”
Hossler, who grew up on a farm in Pennsylvania, was an active member of the Connecticut Trust for Historic Barns, the Monroe Arts and Culture Council, and the Monroe Historical Society.
He served as a member of the Civilian Air Patrol in the U.S. Army National Guard from 1957 to 1965, and worked in marketing for Raybestos-Manhattan in Manheim, Pa., then at headquarters in Trumbull, later joining Rudkin-Wiley in Stratford and Trans-Lux in Norwalk, before retiring.
Talented with a camera, Hossler was employed as an industrial photographer, as well as a staff photographer for the Fairfield County Tourist Bureau from 2005 to 2008.
In 2016, images of old barns he took were displayed in an exhibit at Edith Wheeler Memorial Library. He had another exhibit in the Ehlers Room of the library in 2020, entitled, “This Land is Your Land, This Land is My land: A Lesson in History.”
It featured a collection of photos he took while traveling the country over the years and included landmarks like the Statue of Liberty and Niagara Falls in New York, the giant redwoods of California and old stone missions in Texas.
Hossler served as a Boy Scout leader in the 1960s, later mentoring Eagle Scouts, and coached AYSO soccer in the 1970s. He was an avid bicyclist, according to a story in Monroe Patch. Joel Leneker, former president of the Save Our Stepney Task Force (SOS) and one of its founding members, said Hossler had spent “a bunch of time on the Jersey Shore in the summers.”
Tenacity and a love of Stepney
Leneker and Hosslers’ friendship goes back to 2001, when Hossler joined SOS. Hossler put his heart and soul into everything he did, so Leneker was not surprised by his success in obtaining sponsorships for Monroe Chamber golf tournaments and donations to local causes.
When Hossler set his mind on a community project, Leneker said he always carried it out with tenacity.
“He traveled to Stepney, England, since Stepney, London, England is our sister city,” Leneker said of the Stepney side of Monroe. “He was the ambassador. The English city is known for its bell making and Lee brought back a bell.”
Leneker remembers Hosslers’ love of his Pennsylvania roots, handyman skills, dabbling in woodworking and willingness to help anyone he could. When his neighbor Kate Chase, who owns Rocledge Farm, was away, Hossler fed her cows and chickens.
Hossler was always involved in projects for SOS, working to beautify the Stepney Green, organizing an art exhibit there and had the skills to help assemble benches on the green. Hossler worked to gain recognition for Civil War veterans interred in the Stepney Cemetery, and Leneker said he was instrumental in the construction of the Stepney gazebo, and influential in fundraising for the Stepney Heritage Trail.
Though his health was failing in his final days, Leneker said Hossler sat in an SUV to stay warm, while attending last December’s tree lighting.
“He loved Stepney and was dedicated to seeing parts of it preserved and beautified,” Leneker said. “He was a champion at fundraising. He was not afraid to ask for financial help. It will be a heartfelt loss for the SOS and the community. He left big shoes to fill. It will take two-and-a-half volunteers to replace him.”
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I’m so sorry to see that Lee has passed. I didn’t know him but knew of him through his good works. My late husband Bill had interactions with Lee and spoke very highly of him noting that be was always honest, fair, and had the best interest of the Monroe community in mind. Condolences to his wife and family.
RIP my friend. Lee had only Monroes best interests in mind in everything he had done. Thank you Dorothy for letting him share is life with us. God Bless
To Lee’s family- As I rode my indoor bike today my thoughts went back to times spent with Lee, Dottie, Kim, et al. Am just now learning of his passing as something told me to google his name.
I spent much of my time with Lee in the years shortly before and after my own father’s passing in January 1986.
Though it has been many years since I saw you, I treasure the time spent with all of you, especially the times sitting by the fire in your home, skiing with Lee and joining Lee in charity rides like the NY 5 Boros ride in support of American Youth Hostels, the Lancaster Co. (PA) Covered Bridge Rides, and the Multiple Sclerosis rides.
Though circumstances, time and distance separated us, please accept my deepest condolences for the loss of a beloved father, husband, grandpa, uncle and friend.
My apologies to Michael for omitting you in my posting.