John Daukas

1927 - 2017

John Bernard Daukas, a resident of Watch Hill, RI for over fifty years, passed away November 19, 2017, five days before his 90th birthday. John was born in Nashua, NH on Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 1927, the son of James and Stella Daukas. Growing up, John was an exceptional student and athlete. He was a high school All American Football player and graduate of Dartmouth College, Class of 1949. A serious football injury kept him from following his brothers into professional football. Instead, he headed to the Midwest where he held a number of management positions with The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company. John later returned to the East Coast where he served as the President of Middlesex Optical Company in Middletown, CT for almost fifty years. Middletown is where he met the love of his life, Virginia Tuttle, who would be his wife and constant companion until her death on November 25, 2016. John was a former Commodore and President of the Watch Hill Yacht Club, former President of the Rotary Club of Middlesex County, CT, and a long-time member of the Misquamicut Club and the Wesleyan University Faculty Club. John also served for years as the Parks Commissioner for the Watch Hill Fire District. In his free time, John enjoyed sailing and officiating regattas, fishing and spending time with his children and grandchildren. A loving and devoted husband, father, and grandfather, John is survived by his sons, John B. Daukas, Jr. (Christianne), of Dover, MA, Galan G. Daukas (Denise), of Watch Hill, R.I.; daughter, Joan Beth (Daukas) Brown (Scott), of Greenwich, Conn. and Watch Hill, R.I.; and grandchildren, Victoria Daukas, Courtney Daukas, Nicholas Brown, Anastasia Daukas, Erika Daukas, Christopher Brown, Jay Daukas, Galan "Geb" Daukas, Tucker Brown, and Virginia Daukas; his sister, Alice Redfield of Atherton, CA; and many nieces and nephews whom he loved dearly. John was predeceased by his brothers Louis, Nicholas, Paul and Charles and by his sisters Sophie and Anne. Gregarious, engaging and kind, John had a quick wit and great sense of humor. The Daukas family will greet relatives and friends on Friday, November 24, 2017 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Buckler-Johnston Funeral Home, 121 Main St., Westerly, RI. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, November 25, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at the Watch Hill Chapel, 5 Bluff Avenue, Watch Hill, RI. Please note the Watch Hill Chapel is not heated. If you can join us in celebration, please dress appropriately. For online condolences, please visit www.buckler-johnston.com.