Emmmett Providence

He was born on August 30, 1970, in New Haven to George and Barbara Providence. His father, a native of Guyana, was the first African American bricklayer in New Haven. His mother was a social worker and former executive director of the Child and Family Resource Program of Head Start. Emmett was the cherished last addition to the Providence family and lovingly doted upon by parents and siblings as a baby and young child. The arc of his life was irreparably altered when, at the age of seven, he came within an hour of death due to an unexplained failure of his kidneys. At eight he became one of the youngest kidney transplant recipients in the United States with a kidney donated by his older brother Ray. He would be blessed with three more kidneys during his lifetime. After his first kidney transplant Emmett attended Wilbur Cross High School before enrolling at Dewitt Clinton High School in the Bronx after the family moved to New York City. He later returned to New Haven so that he could graduate from Cross. Though he spent significant time in the hospital, negotiating with doctors and other health care providers, his life was significant for the fierceness with which he pushed through his physical challenges to craft a life of significance. He lived in New York City for twenty years. Emmett had a love of cooking which saw him attend a culinary arts school before working as an employee for Verizon for ten years before retiring due to disability. The dominant passion of his life was football, and he was blessed to coach as an assistant at the celebrated Christ The King Regional High School, in addition to serving as head coach on several semiprofessional football teams in Brooklyn. Though he eventually moved back home to New Haven and then Waterbury, he continued to coach, commuting weekly to both practices and games in New York City faithfully as his health permitted. At the time of his passing, he was an assistant coach for the New Haven Steelers. Emmett is survived by his parents, George E. A. Providence, Sr. and Barbara A. Providence; his wife Wanda, daughter Breana and stepson Juwan. His five older brothers George, Jr. (Lynn), Ray (Dawn), Eric, Sr. (Anne), Keith, Sr. (Lula, Hyclis), and Kenneth; and a host of relatives including an aunt, uncle, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. The repast service will be held at the V.F.W. located at 403 Morse Street, Hamden, Connecticut.

Emmmett Providence

August 30, 1970 - September 19, 2021