John E. Lennon III December 31, 1936 – October 21, 2010. My Dad

He wasn’t the Beatle, but my dad.

John E. Lennon passed peacefully today surrounded by family and listening to Cole Porter. Dad, You’re The Top and are missed.

(He’s the cute one on the left. Taken in Newfoundland when the Navy back in the late 50’s – early 60’s playing hockey with his pal “Schwartz” – in their bathrobes, wearing ties, for no apparent reason. Love that)

This extended obituary was written by dad’s long time college friend and hunting buddy, our “Uncle Quack” – I remember dancing the twist with my dad at my cousin David’s wedding!

John Edward Lennon, III of Needham and North Falmouth , passed away peacefully with his family by his side on Thursday, October 21, 2010 at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Needham, at the age of 73, after a long debilitating bout with Parkinson’s disease.

John grew up in Dedham, and graduated from Dedham High School. Despite losing his father to a heart attack he attended Harvard College, and graduated with an AB degree in History in 1958. Following college he attended Officers Candidate School with the U. S. Navy in Class 41, and was commissioned Ensign in March, 1959. After training at the Aviation Ground Officers School in Jacksonville, Florida, and instruction in Air Intelligence in Washington, DC, he was assigned tours of duty at the Operational Control Center in Argentia, Newfoundland, and later as Air Navigation Officer at Quonset Point, Rhode Island. After his active duty tour he attended Harvard Business School and graduated with an MBA degree in 1964.

His working life was focused in Boston while living in Needham, and involved as a financial analyst the management of funds for initially the Old Colony Trust Company followed by a long career at Colonial Management as a Vice President heading the Tax-managed Trust, and Colonial Utilities Fund.

Most of his recreational life, other than support and devotion to his family, involved a love of the sporting life, including over forty years of bird hunting, ownership of a succession of Weimaraner dogs and strong support of the breed for hunting and field trialing, collector of books and written materials on the sporting life, duck decoys, double barrel side by side shotguns, and art work done by the late Boston sporting artist Aiden Lassell Ripley. He was elated to have qualified for the Orvis Doubles Club with the shooting of two woodcock on a simultaneous flush in 1982. He focused some of his activity with a summer home acquired in Falmouth on Cape Cod.

His knowledge of popular songs from the past was encyclopedic, and he was an early performer of the twist from Chubby Checker. John enjoyed playing golf with his friends both in Needham and on Cape Cod, and participated for years in a monthly evening playing bridge with a regular group.

John maintained his active reserve status with the Navy and attained the rank of Captain, with a retirement ceremony held on the USS Constitution. He was the historian for the Weimaraner Club of America and a member of the Yankee Weimaraner Club, as well as a member of Ducks Unlimited and the Ruffed Grouse Society, and throughout his life was a strong proponent of the Weimaraner breed of dogs. John enjoyed golfing and was a charter member of Ballymeade Country Club in North Falmouth. He remained devoted to his church and his family for all his life and will be missed by his many friends.

He was the beloved husband for 46 years of Kathleen (Hickey) Lennon and the loving father of Elizabeth “Beth” Lennon and her husband Cliff Hillis of Phoenixville PA, Pamela Lennon Carr and her husband Sean of Stoughton and Kathleen “Katie” Lennon of Norwood. Brother of Deanne Kurriss of Bass River. Dear Papa of Kaileigh Lennon, Madeleine and Jack Carr. Also survived by 3 nieces and nephews. Interment with Military Honors at St. Mary’s Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donation in John’s name may be made to Lewy Body Dementia Association, 912 Killian Hill Road SW, Lilburn GA, 30047.

Here’s the link to the Obituary for John E. Lennon III at Eaton Funeral Home