Hon. Alfred J. Jennings, Jr.

Hon. Alfred J. Jennings, Jr., 87 of Fairfield, CT died on June 22, 2026, at home surrounded by his family.

Al was born on May 26, 1939, in Bridgeport, CT to the late Alfred J. Jennings, Sr. and Catherine Hungerford Jennings. In 1963 he married Karen Johnson of Fairfield, his sweetheart since age 16. He is also survived by her and his children Susan Jennings (Alexander Ross), Lynn Jennings (Thomas Appling), Michael Jennings (Colleen) and Kiersten Chou (Sumin), his siblings Nancy Jennings, Joseph Jennings (Peggy), Patricia Dinolfo (Thomas), his grandchildren Sara, Riley, Faye, MacDara, Liam and Esben, and a large extended family. Al was predeceased by his sister Mary Lou Jennings.

Al graduated from Fairfield College Preparatory School in 1957 and received a BA in Economics from College of the Holy Cross in 1961 while a member of the Air Force ROTC. He received his JD from Yale Law School in 1964. During law school, he clerked at Goldstein and Peck, P.C. in Bridgeport, CT. After being admitted to the American Bar Association, he subsequently served for 3 years in the U.S. Air Force where he was a member of the Judge Advocate General’s Corps at Kincheloe Air Force Base in MI. He received many commendations for his work in the Air Force. He taught business law at Sault Saint Marie Community College during his service and later at Fairfield University. After an honorable discharge, Al and his young family moved to Shelton, CT, and he returned to Goldstein and Peck as an Associate. In 1971, Al, along with 6 partners, founded the law firm Zeldes, Needle and Cooper in Bridgeport where he practiced criminal and corporate law. In 2003 he was appointed to the Connecticut Superior Court where he presided as a judge over complex civil and criminal litigation until he retired in 2020.

In 2004, Judge Jennings won the Edward R. Finch National Law Day Award for his speech titled “To Win Equality by Law, Brown vs the Board of Education 50 Years Later” which he delivered at the ABA meeting in Salt Lake City.

Since 1995, Al served as President of the Southbury Training School Foundation, benefitting special needs adults in need of advocacy and guardianship.

Al enjoyed spending time at his family cottage of 51 years on Tyler Lake in Goshen, CT, boating, waterskiing and swimming. Known for his love of country, he famously honored the 4th of July annually with a huge flag flown on his boat. He was an avid snow skier his entire adult life, most recently as a member, with Karen, of the 70 + Ski Club. Together they travelled extensively in the U.S. and Europe.

Al was a pilot and spent many joyful years flying his Piper Arrow. He also served many seasons as a guide boat captain for swimmers during the annual St. Vincent’s Swim Across the Sound fundraiser. He loved to hike and camp on the Appalachian Trail with his family. In his senior years he exercised daily at the Fairfield Recreation Center. He was handy in home repair, stemming from his teenage job at the August Brothers’ hardware store. He also worked one summer as a Pepsi delivery driver. He loved these early jobs, and they instilled in him a respect for hard work, humility and the belief that all people are equal and deserve fundamental human rights. These attributes made him a well-respected litigator and judge.

Calling hours will be at Spear Miller Funeral Home in Fairfield on Sunday, June 28th from 2-5 pm. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Monday, June 29th at 10:00 a.m. at St Anthony’s Parish in Fairfield with interment with full military honors immediately following at Saint Thomas Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Southbury Training School Foundation, Cottage 10, 1461 S. Britain Road, Southbury, CT 06488.