John D. Jennings, 86, of Westport, MA, former educator and real estate broker, died peacefully at home with his family by his side on Monday, October 5, 2009 after an extended illness. He was the beloved husband of Ruth (White) Jennings for 63 years.
Born January 9, 1923 in Danbury, CT, he was the son of the late Richard Dudley Jennings and the late Irene Parks Rathmell, Mr. Jennings graduated from Westminster School in Simsbury, CT in 1942, and served in the United States Army in the Pacific from 1943-1945. He graduated from Wesleyan University in 1949 with a BA in History and from Columbia University in 1950 with a MA in American History. He also attended Columbia Teachers College and the University of Bridgeport.
For much of his life, Mr. Jennings devoted himself to educating young people (at Main Street School in Danbury, CT, Cheshire HS in Cheshire, CT, Amity Regional HS in Woodbridge, CT and Joel Barlow Regional HS in Redding, CT). He also coached football, basketball and swimming. During the summers in the 1950's and 1960's he and his wife, Ruth, founded and ran a day camp, Tarra-Walla, in Danbury, CT. From 1968 until 1973, Mr. Jennings was the Headmaster of Oakwood Friends School in Poughkeepsie, NY.
Until his retirement in 2001, Mr. Jennings was the owner of Jennings Real Estate in Westport. He attended the Westport Monthly Meeting of Friends, was a board member of Hospice Outreach and a member of the Lantern Society of the United Way of Greater Fall River. Mr. Jennings served on several Westport town committees and had a passion for history and politics. He loved sports and was an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan. In the summer, he loved spending time at the beach.
Besides his wife, he leaves his daughter, Carol D. Guay and her husband, Gene, of Westport; and two sons: John D. Jennings, Jr. ("Jack") and his wife, Nina, of Westport; and James R. Jennings and his wife, Karen, of New York City; four grandchildren: Anna Guay, Eric Guay, Nadia Jennings and Dakotah Jennings and several nieces and nephews. Mr. Jennings was the brother of the late Richard D. Jennings, Jr., the late Charles P. Jennings and his twin brother the late Peter S. Jennings.
A memorial celebration will be held on Saturday, November 28, 2009 at 2:00 PM. at the Westport Friends Meeting, 930 Main Road, Westport, Mass.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in his name to Lighthouse Hospice Foundation, 529 Main Street, Suite 101, Charlestown, MA 02129 or to Westport Monthly Meeting of Friends, P.O. Box 3707, Westport, MA 02790.