Obituary of Eugene Francis Ready

Eugene Francis Ready, native of New Canaan, Connecticut, where he served as Chief of Detectives, passed away peacefully on May 22, 2025, at the Lutheran Home in Southbury, Connecticut. Gene has been reunited in heaven with the love of his life and devoted wife, Dorothy. He was born at Norwalk Hospital on August 25th, 1933, and was the son of Eugene Timothy and Marguerite Hoyt Ready.

Gene attended New Canaan Public Schools and enjoyed telling stories of his childhood growing up in the once quaint little town. Gene was an exceptional athlete, playing all four high school years on the varsity baseball team. During Gene’s junior year, he pitched the team to its first State Championship in 1950. Coach Keyes asked him if he could handle the last three games and Gene did—striking out 37 batters, only allowing 6 hits. Gene’s senior year in basketball had him ranking 6th in Fairfield County, scoring 229 points. Upon his 1951 graduation, teams came forward with offers to play professional baseball – one from the Philadelphia Phillies, one from Kansas City Athletics, and an invitation to attend tryouts for the Boston Braves. The contracts were given consideration, but the thought of lingering in the minors, riding around on hot buses, and being away from his family and friends deterred him.

As The Korean War broke out, Gene and his buddies enlisted in the armed forces. As a United States Marine, he was stationed at a Naval base in Morocco, North Africa. Soon his athletic skills in baseball and basketball were discovered and he played on teams that won coveted championships for the Navy and Marine Corps. Combat duty requests were submitted multiple times but were denied. Gene was honorably discharged in July of 1956.

His closest friends, Anthony “Dinny” Lapolla, Ralph Scott, and Paul Torpey returned home from military service, and with Gene, joined the New Canaan Police Department in September of 1956. Gene continued to play competitive baseball in the area, winning several league MVP trophies. During the 1960’s, while his family grew, he turned his attention more towards coaching. He coached New Canaan baseball and Catholic Youth Organization basketball.

Gene’s police career was full of accomplishments. He was promoted to Detective in 1966, to Detective Sargent in 1971, to Acting Division Commander of Detective Division in 1974, and then finally Lieutenant Detective in 1976. He graduated from the FBI National Academy in June of 1975 and while there, he qualified as a Sharpshooter. Throughout the course of his career, he took numerous courses in Criminal Law, Narcotics, Homicide and Investigative techniques. As a Detective, he received numerous commendations for burglary arrests. One involved a high-speed chase onto the Merritt Parkway, forcing two New York bound burglars off the road until help caught up. Gene’s career as a Detective also involved investigations into several New Canaan murders, ending with a 1986 home invasion and homicide. As the Lieutenant Detective leading the investigation, he closed the case in three weeks with two arrests and convictions to follow. One of Gene’s most heroic acts as a Patrolman occurred in the winter of 1961 when he saved the life of a baby girl after she and her family had been overcome from carbon monoxide poisoning in their home. After the oxygen equipment Gene had been provided for the emergency call had failed, he provided mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to the young child. In 1987, he retired from police work and began working full-time at Saint Luke’s School in New Canaan. He was so admired there that Saint Luke’s dedicated the 1995 yearbook to him and honored him as the keynote speaker at graduation.

Gene fully retired in 1999 to Cape Cod and then to Southbury with his wife, Dorothy. Gene was honored by both Stamford and New Canaan’s Oldtimers Associations and was inducted into the New Canaan High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2006. He was a long-time parishioner of Saint Aloysius Church and a Third-Degree Member of the Knights of Columbus.

Gene’s life is a testament to putting his community and others before self. Despite his numerous accomplishments and leading an amazing life he remained a humble man. In conversation he would always want to know how you and your family are doing and would change the subject when you asked about him or his well-being. He was generous to a fault, willing to part with his last dollar if someone was in need.

Gene will forever be regarded as a treasured part of New Canaan’s past, and he will be missed by all who got the chance to know him.

He was predeceased by his wife Dorothy, and his sister Barbara Bouton. He is survived by his son Scott (Veronica) of New Canaan, his son William (Barbara) of Southbury, and daughter Pamela (Steve) Heckendorf, of Southbury. Additionally, he leaves behind eight grandchildren: Shane, Tori, Marlee, Zachary, Jacob, Daniel, Olivia, and Amelia, and three great grandchildren: Theo, Leia, and Leon.

The Ready family extends its heartfelt gratitude to the compassionate staff of the Lutheran Home of Southbury during Gene’s final months.

A wake will be held at Hoyt’s Funeral Home on Friday, June 20th from 4 to 7pm. Funeral services will take place at St. Aloysius Church on Saturday, June 21st at 10am