JOHN RISLEY CONANT III

1921 - 2014

CONANT, John "Jack" Risley, III 92, of Proctor, VT, died January 5, 2014, at The Meadows at East Mountain in Rutland Town, VT. He was born August 10, 1921, in Cambridge, MA, the son of John Risley and Fannie (Briggs) Conant II. He graduated from Gardner (MA) High School in 1939, where he was tennis champion in 1938 and 1939, and attended Bryant and Stratton College and Boston University, both in Boston, MA. A veteran of the Army Air Force WW II (1942-1945) he served as a Cryptographic Technician with Squadron A 1079 Army Air Force Base Unit. He served in Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Italy, Sicily, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and England. He was a member of the Rutland Lodge #79, F&AM, life member of the 9th Air Force, and member of the Legion of Honor Unit of Cairo Shrine and Scottish Rite and recently received Life Membership in the Legion of Honor. Mr. Conant worked at the State Street Bank and Trust Company in Boston, MA, then moved to Proctor, VT where he was vice-president and trust officer of the Trust Department at the Proctor Bank until his retirement in 1986. He was a member of the First Congregational Church of Gardner, MA and the Union Church of Proctor. In earlier years he was an avid traveler, golfer and past treasurer and director of the Proctor-Pittsford Country Club. A faithful Red Sox fan and tennis player, Jack also was a tennis coach and instructor at Proctor High School for 10 years. A member of the US Tennis Association, he played in the Senior Games in 1997 at age 76, and in the years 2003 and 2005 in Arizona. Survivors include two sisters, Louise N. Conant Daley of Yarmouth, ME and Clara C. Claessens of Rutland, VT; three nephews, William Claessens and wife, Faith of Brandon, VT, James P. Daley and wife, Laura of New Braintree, MA and William P. Daley of Casco, ME; a niece, Susan L. Daley of Yarmouth, ME; a grandniece, Trista Daley; and three grandnephews, Stefan Shaft, William D. Claessens and Nathan Jack Claessens. The funeral service will be held Thursday, January 9, 2014, at 2 PM in the Union Church of Proctor, with the Rev. Douglas Williamson, pastor, officiating. Friends may greet the family from 1-2 PM Thursday at the church. Following the service there will be a reception in the church hall. Burial will be in Crystal Lake Cemetery in Gardner, MA, Fri., Jan. 10, 2014 at 11:30 AM. Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of one's choice. Arrangements are under the direction of Tossing Funeral Home.