John C. Nerreau

NERREAU John C. Nerreau, age 74, of Trumbull, died on Monday, January 31, 2005, after a brief but brave battle with bone cancer. He is survived by his loving wife of 48 years, Barbara Fitzgerald Nerreau. He was born in North Haven, son of Henry and Esther O4Connell Nerreau. His life centered around his family, his art and his teaching. In recent years, John and Barbara enjoyed annual trips to Europe to study art. John was a graduate of Southern Connecticut State University and received advance degrees from New York University and Fairfield University. He began his teaching career at the Whitier School in Bridgeport in 1952, taught at Central High School, and then became the supervisor of art for the Bridgeport school system. He transferred to the Stamford school system as the coordinator of art, music, dance and drama. During his long career in education, he was also an adjunct professor at Sacred Heart University and Southern Connecticut State University. He was currently working with student teachers for the University of Bridgeport, University of New Haven and Southern Connecticut State University, and was also involved in student activities with Connecticut Education Services. Among his professional accomplishments he designed and directed a mobile art gallery to exhibit student and professional art work for Bridgeport, the first of such in the nation; he initiated and directed the Creative Arts Camp located on Pleasure Beach, funded by the U.S. Government; he was a co-founder of the Connecticut Arts Education and co-initiator for the reinstatement of the Scholastic Arts award competition for Connecticut High School students. John conducted service workshops in the state for the CAEA, for the New England Arts Education Conference, and for the National Art Education Association. He was awarded the NAEA "State Art Educator of the Year" in 1982. His personal creative pursuits were in painting, calligraphy and stained glass. He and his wife exhibited their work in Connecticut, New York and Rhode Island. John was a member and co-chair of the Trumbull Beautification Committee. He designed the dogwood motif seen on many of the town street signs. John was an active member of St. Theresa Church as a Eucharistic minister, photographer for the RCIA group, and in the Cursillo Movement. He often told with pride and a smile, that he became an altar boy at age 70. He is survived by his daughter, Claudia, her husband, Attorney Christopher Owen, and sons, William and Scott of South Salem, N.Y.; his daughter, Deidre, husband, former Senator Christopher McCabe, and children, Caroline, Maura, Colin and Aidan of Ellicott City, Md.; and son, Brian, wife Shari, and children, Bradley, Jason and Meredith of Fairfield. He is also survived by a brother, Donald Nerreau of East Haven; and sister, Shirley Delillo of Hamden; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by brothers, Robert, William, Thomas and Henry Nerreau; and sister, Dorothy Clough. Funeral services will be held on Saturday at 11 a.m. Directly in St. Theresa Church, Trumbull, with a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment will follow in Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Friends may call on Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. in the Redgate-Hennessy Funeral Home, Main Street and Gorham Place, Trumbull.