John F. B. Mitchell

1914 - 2014
Stonington Connecticut - John F. B. Mitchell, 100, of Stonington, died on Nov. 8, 2014, following a short illness.

Mr. Mitchell, a retired attorney, was born in Flushing, Long Island, N.Y., in 1914, son of John and Therese (Hewitt) Mitchell.

In addition to his wife, Martha M. Mitchell, he leaves a son Thomas F. Mitchell of Stonington; daughter-in-law Karen R. Anderson of Providence; sister-in-law Diana Mitchell of Houston; step son Morell Marean of Los Angeles and step daughter Simone Marean of San Francisco; Grand daughters Ariel Mitchell of New York and Danica Mitchell of Providence; nephews William Forsyth, Jamie Mitchell, Edward, Henry and Paul Mitchell; Nieces Gretchen Bright, Lucy Calhoun, Mary Dusenbury, Caroline Elischer, Therese Hare, Agnes Kuenkler and Francesca Mitchell; and numerous grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

He was predeceased by his twin sisters, Agnes M. Forsyth and Mary M. McClintock; a brother, Henry; as well as his first wife, Margot F. Mitchell, who died in 1999 and sister-in-law Lili O'Neill, who died in 1997.

He was a graduate of Princeton University (1935) and the Yale University Law School (1938).

During World War II, Mr. Mitchell enrolled in the U.S. Army where he served from 1941 until 1946, achieving the rank of major. In France, he was operations officer with the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force and was awarded the French Croix de Guerre and Silver Star (France), as well as the Croix de Guerre with Palm (Belgium). Between 1951 and 1955, he was assistant general counsel in the early years of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency.

Mr. Mitchell practiced law in New York City for many years and was a partner in the firm Baker Nelson Williams and Mitchell. He was active in Democratic politics serving as vice-chairman of the New York Businessmen for Stevenson; later he was a director of the Institute for International Order and participated in The World Federalist. He was a trustee of the Amsterdam House, a home for the elderly, and an active member of the Maine Coast Heritage Trust.

An ardent yachtsman, Mr. Mitchell spent much time cruising the New England Coast from the Canadian Maritimes to New York. He was a member of The Century Association (New York) and commodore of the Bar Harbor Yacht Club from 1971 to 1973. After moving to Stonington in 1976, Mr. Mitchell was active as an amateur artist and a regional representative of Amnesty International.

A Celebration of his Life was held November 29th in Stonington for his wide circle of friends and family.

Donations may be made in Mr. Mitchell's memory to the John Fulton Berrien Mitchell Memorial Fund, Princeton University, Alumni and Donor Records, PO Box 5357, Princeton, NJ 08540.