John Hillis Carnahan

1929 - 2025

John Hillis Carnahan, 96, longtime Brattleboro attorney, passed away peacefully May 7, 2025, at Menig Nursing Home, Randolph Center, Vermont. Prior to moving to Randolph, John and his wife Mary lived on Tyler Street for 56 years.

John was born in Manhattan, Kansas, on January 22, 1929, the middle son of Paul Adelbert and Gladys Kelly Paul Carnahan. He attended Harvard University (Class of 1950) and Harvard Law School (Class of 1954) while serving in the Navy.

Carnahan married Mary Elizabeth Faigle in August 1955. They moved to Brattleboro where John began working for the law firm Fitts & Olson. Less than two years later he became the Administrative Assistant to U.S. Congressman William H. Meyer, the first Democrat ever elected to the U.S. Congress from Vermont. Carnahan returned to Vermont and served as the Assistant U.S. Attorney for Vermont from 1961-1965. In 1965, he returned to Brattleboro as an associate with the law firm of Kristensen, Cummings and Price. Two years later he was appointed Windham County District Judge. In 1973 he rejoined Fitts & Olson as a partner and worked there until 1995, when he became a sole practitioner, retiring in 2004.

Carnahan was especially active in the Democratic Party and historical organizations. He was Democratic National Committeeman for Vermont, 1979-1988; Democratic State Chairperson, 1977; and the party's unsuccessful candidate for Lieutenant Governor in 1984. He was involved in many campaigns over the years and hosted countless Democratic candidates who visited Brattleboro.

A longtime and active member of St. Michael's Episcopal Church, Carnahan was known for his quiet kindness. He generously gave his time to many organizations. He served on more than a dozen social service agency boards during his lifetime, including trustee of the Brattleboro Retreat from 1970-1994.

He was a trustee of the Brattleboro Museum and Art Center in the 1980s. He began serving as a trustee of the Vermont Historical Society in 1982 and served as its president (1993-1995). He was a founding member of both the Brattleboro Historical Society (1982) and the Estey Organ Museum (2002). He served on the Advisory Council for the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation and was a trustee of the Preservation Trust of Vermont. He helped establish the Friends of the Vermont State House. Carnahan was interested in the architecture and history of U.S. state capitol buildings and donated his extensive collection of state capitol postcards to the Curator of State Buildings in 2021.

John was an avid newspaper reader. In their later years John and Mary could be seen walking daily to get multiple newspapers at Baker's or Putney Road Market.

John took great joy in his family, especially at multi-generational celebrations on Tyler Street. He was predeceased by his brothers and his beloved daughter Sarah Kelly Carnahan in 2014. He is survived by Mary, his wife of 70 years, his son Paul (Eve) of Montpelier, his daughter Susan (William) Vodrey of Cleveland, Ohio, his son-in-law Alfredo Quintero of New York City, eight grandchildren, as well as nieces and nephews. Condolences can be expressed at https://www.dayfunerals.com/obituary/john-carnahan. A memorial service at St. Michael's in August is being planned.