John A. Dormer

1939 - 2014

John A. Dormer, 74 of Manchester, died Wednesday, January1, 2014 at Manchester Memorial Hospital after an extended illness. He was the husband of the late Jean (St. Jean) Dormer. John was born in Manchester on May 8, 1939, son of the late John M. and Mary Vera (Eastham) Dormer and resided his whole life in the Manchester area. He was a graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnical Institute and retired in 1999 from the United Research division of United Technologies Corp. after thirty-nine years of service. He was a longtime parishioner of St. James Church and volunteered his time and talents for several organizations. He was a charter member and the first president of the Instructors of the Handicap, enjoyed delivering for the Meals on Wheels program, and was an active member and former board member of the Manchester Historical Society. He is survived by two sons, Michael McLaughlin and his wife Margot of Berlin, Germany, and John A. Dormer and his wife Jennifer of Manchaca, TX; three grandchildren, Gretchen Shelby, Emily Dormer, and Kevin Dormer; two brothers, Daniel M. Dormer and his wife Jean of New London, NH, and George J. Dormer and his wife Virginia of Fairport, NY, and several nieces and nephews. A Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated on Monday, Jan. 6, at 10:00 AM at St. James Church, 896 Main Street, Manchester. Burial will be private in St. James Cemetery. Visiting hours will be held Sunday, Jan. 5, from 2 pm to 5 pm at the Watkins Funeral Home, 142 East Center Street, Manchester. Memorial contributions may be made to the Manchester Historical Society, 175 Pine Street, Manchester, CT 06040. To leave a message for his family please visit www.holmes-watkinsfuneralhomes.com.