John Walter Maynard, 91, a resident of Middletown for 58 years, beloved husband of Jean (Finley) Maynard of 66 years, passed away on Wednesday, December 10th after an injury and illness. Born in Brooklyn, NY, on November 2, 1923, he was the son of the late J. Paul and Helen (Rose) Maynard and grew up on the south shore of Long Island in Bay Shore. John graduated from Bay Shore High School in 1940 and took a post-graduate year at Wilbraham Academy in Wilbraham, Massachusetts. John entered Wesleyan University in the fall of 1941. In January 1943, he enlisted in the U. S. Army. His skills as a photographer lead him to be placed in a prisoner-of-war processing company in the South Pacific. As one of General McArthur's soldiers, he went on shore in the Philippines during the Battle of Leyte Gulf. After a year and a half in the Pacific theater, he returned to the U. S. in January 1946. John returned to Wesleyan and graduated in 1947, then earned his MS degree from the Columbia University School of Journalism in 1948. He worked as a reporter for THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL for seven years. In 1956, he moved to Middletown to be writer and eventually Senior Editor of CURRENT EVENTS, a newspaper for 7th and 8th graders. John also wrote for WEEKLY READER. These school newspapers were read by millions of children all over the United States. He received prizes for Excellence in Educational Journalism from the Educational Press Association of America. John loved bird watching especially along the shoreline and was one of three men who co-founded the Mattabeseck Audubon Society. He could also identify many trees and wildflowers. As a volunteer, he worked for Literacy Volunteers and was on the Hark Wright Scholarship Committee, which awarded scholarships to needy students. John was a member of the vestry at the Church of the Holy Trinity in Middletown. He was devoted to Wesleyan University and as an alumnus helped in fund-raising and home-coming events. In addition to his wife, John is survived by their three sons, John Paul, Preston, and Peter Maynard and daughters-in-law, Marcie, Amy and Tamar. John and his wife were blessed with 6 grandchildren, Adin (and his wife, Llama), Hilary, Melanie, Adam, Asa, and Isaiah, and two great grandchildren, Leif and Eleanor. He is also survived by his sister, Nancy Swan of Babylon, N. Y. and several nieces and nephews. Along with his parents, John was predeceased by his older sister, Pauline Larom Kane. Funeral service will be held on Saturday, December 13th at 11:00 am at the Church of the Holy Trinity in Middletown. Burial will be in Indian Hill Cemetery at the convenience of the family. There will be no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Church of the Holy Trinity, 385 Main Street, Middletown, CT 06457 or to the Veteran Housing Fund, c/o The GNHCLF, 171 Orange Street, New Haven, CT 06510. Doolittle Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. To share memories or send condolences to the family, please visit www.doolittlefuneralservice.com.
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3 Entries
Dear Jean, & family, I am so sorry for your loss, I know how much you'll all miss him. I never have been so taken in by a person in such a short time, but I was, & I can honestly say that I loved him, & the times we spent together. I pray that GOD will bring you all his peace that goes beyond all understanding.
LINDA BRENNAN
December 27, 2014
A life well-lived, John. I wish I had known or I would have driven from Maine for the service.
Charles Piddock
December 13, 2014
Preston: sorry to hear about your Dad's passing. What a great life he led. Remember encountering him in his natural habitat at Hammonasset Beach surrounded by birds and sand dunes. Best to you and your family.
Gerry Tracy
December 12, 2014
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