MIDDLEFIELD – Sean R. Powell, 61, of Middlefield, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully on May 24, 2026 surrounded by all the memories that he loved and cherished. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on April 7, 1965, a beloved son of the late Jimmy and Patricia (Cooper) Powell. He was raised in Denver, Colorado, lived in Palm Bay, Florida, and moved to Middlefield in 2002 where he lived the remainder of his life. He continued his education and received an Associate’s Degree in Aerospace Maintenance Management from the Community College of the Air Force. Sean enlisted in the United States Air Force shortly after graduating in 1983 from Melbourne High School in Florida. After completing initial training, he was assigned to Travis AFB in California as a Jet Engine Technician working on the C-141 and C-5 aircraft. After his tour of duty at Travis AFB, Sean began working as an Air Reserve Technician working with C-5 aircraft at Westover ARB in Chicopee, MA. Sean was highly dedicated to his job at Westover eventually becoming a Production Superintendent at Westover for aircraft maintenance. His active duty service included serving in Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Operation Noble Eagle/Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. After retiring from the U.S. Air Force Reserve in 2015 with the rank of Senior Master Sergeant with over 32 years of service, Sean was employed as a Quality Assurance Representative with the Defense Contract Management Agency in Pittsfield where again was dedicated to his job until the time of his retirement. Sean enjoyed many things such as working on classic cars (as long as they were a Ford), attending car and air shows, astronomy, brewing beer and making wine, cooking, gardening, rock and roll, fierce New England Patriots fan, historic military aircraft and history, museums of any kind, good food, hunting, and traveling. He enjoyed a good debate on almost any topic and if he didn’t know about the topic, he would research it until he was well versed. He also achieved a Black Belt in Kung Fu Martial Arts. He leaves his “adopted family,” James and Jacqueline (Bouchard) Rooney, of Middlefield and their children who he was an uncle to, Ashley and her children, Soleil and Jaxon, Kendall who was his Goddaughter and her partner, Chris Henry, and Jonathan and his husband, William Craig. Sean was “Uncle Sean” to the Rooney family for more than 41 years, always happy to attend every birthday, wedding, graduation, taking care of the Rooney family dog Graci while they were away, and every holiday. He is also survived by ALL his U.S. Air Force brothers and sisters at Westover ARB and his DCMA brethren in Pittsfield. He will be missed by everybody that knew him and was a once in a lifetime person to all who knew him. His relatives and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Friday, July 24, 2026 at 9 a.m. at Sainte Rose de Lima Church, 594 Grattan Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. His Committal Service with United States Air Force Military Honors will follow the Mass at 11 a.m. in the Chapel at the Massachusetts Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery, 1390 Main Street, Agawam, MA 01001. There are no visiting hours. His funeral arrangements are entrusted to the St. Pierre-Phaneuf Aldenville Chapels, (413-532-9806), 13 Dale Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. In lieu of flowers, his family requests that memorial donations be made in his memory to the USAF Museum Foundation, PO Box 33626, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433 or to the Foundation for TJO Animals, 66 Industry Avenue, Suite 3, Springfield, MA 01104. For more details and to leave his family condolence messages, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com
