Geoffrey Armitage

Geoffrey Armitage, 84, of Ridgefield Connecticut, died peacefully on Thursday, January 2, 2025. He was the loving husband of Mary (Fletcher) Armitage.

Mr. Armitage was born in Ashton-Under-Lyne, Lancashire, England on March 28, 1940; a son of the late Harold and Florence (Burgess) Armitage. He attended the Royal College of Salford where he earned his degree in Electrical Engineering. While at University, Geoffrey worked at the Northwestern Electrical Board (NorWEB) as one of two student apprentices being chosen annually, and while working in England, Geoffrey was sent to a course at Oxford University which he was forever proud of.

He met his loving wife Mary when he was 16 on the Isle of Man. They married on September 7, 1963 at St. Stephen’s Church in Audenshaw, Lancashire, England. The couple pursued their love of travel, traveling all over Europe, Greece, Egypt, and Australia, and finally Auckland, New Zealand, where in 1965 Geoffrey started his employment at Auckland Electric Power Board.

In 1968, Geoffrey and Mary welcomed their first daughter Susan. In 1969, they got the travel bug again and moved to the states. There, Geoffrey worked at Connecticut Light and Power where his good friend and former co-worker at NorWEB was then working. They settled in Norwalk living on Couch Street, then Saranac Street. In 1971, they welcomed their son Stephen. In 1973, Geoffrey moved his family again to Upper Reservoir Road in New Milford, CT. In 1976, on their 13th wedding anniversary, Mary gave birth to their last daughter Christine. Their final move was to Ridgefield in 1977.

Geoffrey continued working at CL&P in varying positions, ending up as the General Manager for lower Fairfield County and retired in 2000 to pursue his love of travel, his hobbies, and of course his wife Mary. Upon his 60th birthday, Geoffrey was recognized by the State of Connecticut for his service to the state through his years of work at CL&P.

A longtime resident of Ridgefield, Mr. Armitage was an integral part of his town. When his children were younger he, and Mary, coached many a soccer team for SCORE. Geoffrey always kept involved with his children’s school. He built many a prop for Barlow Mountain and Scotland’s Annual Haunted House, and brought students fishing for their Culture Day. He was a member of the Ridgefield Men’s Club where he volunteered as an auditor, and enjoyed playing bocce. Geoffrey was a proud granddad and great-granddad, volunteering many hours of his time for after school clubs at Hawley Elementary school in Newtown, as well as attending many a sporting event, dance recital, and graduations of his 11 grandchildren. In his spare time, he enjoyed working on his cars, woodworking and painting. A skilled craftsman, Mr. Armitage designed and built stage scenery and backdrops for the MacDonald Pin Dancers for over 20 years. He continued to enjoy his love of travel, especially to his homeland of England, and more recently to Italy, Spain, and Turkey.

Mr. Armitage is survived by his wife of 61 years, Mary as well as their three children: Susan Burbank and her husband, William; Stephen Armitage and his wife, Tammy Ritacco Armitage; and Christine Van Cott and her husband, James. Mr. Armitage is also survived by his grandchildren: Ian Armitage, Heather Ritacco, Chad Ritacco, Lucas Ritacco, Erin Burbank, James Burbank, Hunter Armitage, London Armitage, Aiden Burbank, Nevaeh Van Cott and Brennen Van Cott, as well as his great grandchildren; Avery, Mason and Rowan Harvie. In addition, Mr. Armitage is survived by his brothers, Derek Armitage and his wife, Margaret; and Leslie Armitage and his wife, Anne - all of Manchester, England.

Family and Friends will be received on Monday, January 20, 2025 from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Kane Funeral Home; 25 Catoonah Street, Ridgefield. Tributes and Reflections of Mr. Armitage will be offered at 2:00 PM. Interment will take place privately.

Contributions in Mr. Armitage’s memory may be made to Doctors without Borders or Founders Hall, Ridgefield.

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