John W. Slais

John "Jack" W. Slais
On January 29, 2018, John "Jack" W. Slais, age 87, joined his mother Mary, father John, and sister Barbara in eternal rest. He passed away peacefully in his home in the Lordship section of Stratford with his loving wife and children by his side.
He will be lovingly remembered and missed by his wife Nancy McKenna Slais, his daughter and son-in-law Kathleen and Michael Quinn and grandchildren Michael and Katie Quinn of Stratford; his son and daughter-in-law John and Michele Slais and grandchildren John and Sophia Slais of North Haven; his deceased sister Barbara's husband Edmund Kiely and their children Karen Schlenk, Beth Hebert, Michael Kiely, Edward Kiely, John Kiely, and Barbara Kiely of Stratford, and their spouses, children, and grandchildren; his brother and sister-in-law Richard and Lynn McKenna of Tucson, AZ; his nephew Matthew McKenna of East Haddam; and his sister-in-law Diane McKenna of Stratford.
Jack was born on May 4, 1930, in the East End of Bridgeport to John and Mary Knapp Slais. He graduated from Blessed Sacrament Grammar School, Fairfield Prep, was a member of the first full graduating class of Fairfield University (1951) where he majored in English and minored in History, and received both Master's and Advanced Sixth Year Degrees in Secondary Administration from Fairfield University.
Jack always loved sports, coaching several teams over the years including the Blessed Sacrament CYO Basketball Team to diocesan, city, state, and New England championships in 1952.
In his younger years he enjoyed golfing, especially with his father John at Fairchild Wheeler Golf Couse where together they won the first father-son tournament. They also finished 7th in a national father-son championship in Florida.
Jack enlisted in the U. S. Army and served from 1952 to 1954 at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, during the Korean War.
He began his teaching career in 1954 at Monroe Junior High School and then moved into Masuk High School when it opened in 1957 teaching English and History. In 1962 he joined the faculty at Joel Barlow High School in Redding as an English teacher and in 1969 became assistant principal at the school. Except for 1976 and 1978 when he served as acting principal between interim principals, he continued as assistant principal at his "beloved" Barlow until his retirement in 1994. He loved being an educator and is quoted as saying, "There is no job as important as nurturing young people to become educated, responsible, and civic-minded adults."
Jack's smile and laugh were as big as his heart. He was committed to peace and justice issues and reaching out to those in need in so many aspects of his life. His gentle, wise, and generous soul will be greatly missed by his family and by all whose lives he touched.
Jack loved his family dearly and was its heart and soul. His wife, children, and grandchildren adored him, and will always love, remember, and miss him greatly, especially at our Sunday gatherings.
Funeral services for Jack at Our Lady of Peace Church in Lordship were private.
Donations in Jack's memory may be made to one of his favorite charities, Doctors Without Borders, P.O. Box 5022, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5022, or to a charity of one's choice.
To send an online condolence, please visit www.pisteyfuneralhome.com.