Jorgen Prest

It deeply saddens me to share that my dear, beloved husband, Jorgen Prest, passed away on June 4, 2022 after courageously battling cancer for the past several months.  Jorgen was born in Esbjerg, Denmark on May 8, 1942 to the late Walter and Jenny Prest.  He shared many wonderful memories of his early years with his grandparents, parents, and brother as well as a favorite Aunt Tilde who he visited on the island of Fano.  At age 21, after graduating university, he decided to spread his wings and traveled to the US to live and work in the San Francisco area.  Jorgen was very proud to become a US Citizen while living in San Francisco.  After a short time, he began working for the Stauffer Chemical Company at its San Francisco location.  He loved California and the San Francisco area especially.  He held several jobs within Stauffer and was later relocated to the Westport, CT location where our story began.  Stauffer was sold in the late 80’s and Jorgen began working with Akzo Chemical in Chicago, IL.  It was there that we met our “Chicago family”.  After 7 years he was transferred to a position in Dobbs Ferry, NY where he eventually retired.  After many rewarding years, Jorgen made many friends and colleagues who respected him, valued his opinion and looked up to him.

Jorgen was an accomplished mechanic who took the engine of his Lotus Esprit apart and put it all back together again.  He enjoyed working with leather and hand stitched leather accents in the Lotus as well as leather dining chairs and other projects.  Jorgen was also a very skilled woodworker making fireplace mantles, cornices, newel posts, wooden boxes for knives, installing pre-finished oak floors, stone entryways and hearths, and the list goes on.  He was lovingly known as “Mr. Fix It” by our Carmel, NY neighbors.  There wasn’t anything that he couldn’t accomplish by putting his mind to it.

Jorgen very much enjoyed an evening scotch and continued to enjoy his “scotch and a splash” up until the very end.  During his illness, he was very grateful for the skilled hospice nursing staff, especially Herman and Kristina, as well as the daily home aides, Bertha and Esther.  They offered gentle care and helped him through his daily routine and meals.  Also, many thanks to our dear friends Dee and Dennis Cuccaro for all their unwavering support to Jorgen and I, as well as their continued help.  They have been my rock and are bereft at losing their good friend.

Jorgen leaves behind his heartbroken wife of 36 years, Patricia, a dearly loved cousin, Beth Hurley (Stratford), a sister-in-law, Hannah (Esbjerg), a loving and special niece, Katrine (Copenhagen), a treasured nephew, Anders (Esbjerg), as well as 2 other nephews, Mogens and Christian (Denmark), a goddaughter and niece, Victoria Burel (Boston, MA), and a nephew Augustus Burel (Derby).  Jorgen will also be deeply missed by all in our dear Chicago family, especially Barbara Galecki, and her daughter, Jodi Fritsch, who was like a daughter to him as well.  He also leaves our 2 dogs, Kasey & Calleigh who miss him daily.  Jorgen was predeceased by his brother, Gunnar Prest, and his good friend, Joe Galecki.  All services to honor Jorgen will be private and at the discretion of the family.   

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