Josiah Venter

VENTER, JOSIAH BARNUM Josiah Barnum Venter, 65, of New Haven, died Oct. 2 at Smilow Cancer Center following the development of acute leukemia. He graduated from Foote School and Hotchkiss School, attended the London School of Economics, and received a B.S. from Colgate University in Mathematical Economics. He graduated from the United States Navy Officer Candidate School and served four years on active duty, including one year in Vietnam, where he earned the Navy Achievement Medal with Combat V. He served an additional 16 years in the Naval Reserve including 4 years at the U.S. Naval War College, retiring as a Commander. A member of the New York Society of Security Analysts and the CFA Institute, he was currently a Director at Ingalls and Snyder, NYC, and in New Haven was formerly the Chief Financial Officer at First Bank, and Executive Vice President at First Federal. He loved the city of New Haven and devoted countless hours to the community. He was a Director of the New Haven Development Corporation and Chairman of the Technology Investment Fund of New Haven as well as a past director of the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, and a past member of the Finance Committee of Yale New Haven Hospital. He was a longtime member of the New Haven Lawn Club. Josh was a quintessential Renaissance Man. He had tremendous intellectual curiosity equaled only by his love and compassion for family and friends. An avid sailor, he was a member of the Essex Yacht Club and sailed the Caribbean and New England Coast, as well as the Great Lakes via the Hudson River and the Erie Canal. He loved to take annual family sailing vacations on his Pearson Triton which he has enjoyed for more than 30 years and recently restored to its original condition. He took special pleasure in navigating around the tall ships in New York Harbor during Operation Sail in 1986. He was also a great train buff, enjoying the daily commute to NYC on Metro North and entertaining himself, his children and their friends with his elaborate model train set-up. Several years ago he and his wife took a two week trip all over the United States on Amtrak. He had an intense drive to understand all sides of every issue, reading several newspapers daily to maintain a balanced perspective. He worked three blocks from the Twin Towers and after having experienced firsthand the horrors of 9/11, he read widely, seeking to understand the ideology that led to this terrorist act. He was a true humanitarian. He was predeceased by his father, Commander Josiah G. Venter and his brother Captain J. DeForest Venter. He is survived by his mother Dorothy Barnum Venter of Southbury, his wife of thirty-five years, Martha Reynolds Venter, children Molly Barnum Venter and Josiah Reynolds Venter, sisters Joan Venter Lynn of Washington D.C., Phyllis Venter Savage of Tustin, CA, Mary Lou Venter Briggs of Williamstown, MA, brother Commander Peter Barnum Venter of Rochester Hills, MI, many adoring nieces and nephews, and his faithful, four legged friend, Oliver. In lieu of flowers, donations in Josh's name can be made to Hotchkiss School or the US Department of Veterans Affairs for the survivors of Agent Orange. The family wishes to thank the doctors, nurses, and support staff at Smilow Cancer Center for their professional and loving care. A memorial service will be held at New Haven's Trinity Church on the Green at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 5.