Mary Ellen Dagon

Mary Ellen Dagon, 91, formerly of Old Saybrook, East Hartford, and Venice, Florida, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 3, 2023, in Rocky Hill. Mary Ellen was born in Hartford on February 19, 1932, to the late Michael and Anna Murray Coppinger, each of whom had emigrated from County Cork, Ireland. She was the loving wife of George A. Dagon for 70 years.

After graduating from Mount St. Joseph Academy in West Hartford, and before her marriage, Mary Ellen worked for a Hartford brokerage firm. While raising her family, she was involved in a variety of community activities, including the East Hartford PTA and the Democratic Women’s Club, as well as supporting her husband’s successful campaigns for Town Council and, later, for Mayor of East Hartford. After moving to Old Saybrook, Mary Ellen became active in the Knollwood Beach Association, serving as the Association’s Tax Collector for many years. As first mate and chief cook of the vessels “Mistyfied” and “GeoMar” out of Old Saybrook, Mary Ellen spent many summers with George traversing Long Island Sound and the Connecticut River. She also enjoyed winters in Venice, Florida for more than three decades. Mary Ellen loved to read and often could be found poring over a challenging crossword puzzle. She took great pride in her organizational and record-keeping skills, and always could be counted on to locate whatever no one else could.

Mary Ellen – also affectionately known to family as Maur/Maureen, Maud/Maudy, or Yo/Yoey – is survived by her beloved husband George, of Old Saybrook; son, George A. Dagon Jr. and wife Trisha Beatty of Berlin; daughter, Cindy Valdivia and husband Gustavo of Laguna Niguel, California; as well as her twin sister Theresa Ehrhardt of East Hartford, brother Kenneth Coppinger and wife Carol of York, South Carolina; and sister-in-law Betty Coppinger of Colchester. Mary Ellen leaves three adoring grandchildren, Katie Dagon and husband Jeremy Brown, Meg Dagon, and Nicky Valdivia, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brother Michael Coppinger and brother-in-law Daniel Ehrhardt.

Calling hours will be held on Friday, October 6, 2023, from 4pm until 6pm at Newkirk and Whitney Funeral Home, 318 Burnside Ave., East Hartford, CT 06108. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, October 7, 2023 at 10am at St. Rose Church, 33 Church St., East Hartford. Burial will follow in St. Mary Cemetery. The family gives heartfelt thanks to Mary Ellen’s caregivers at Maple View in Rocky Hill. Donations in Mary Ellen’s memory may be made to the American Heart Association.