John J. MIGGINS

MIGGINS, John J. John J. Miggins, of Farmington, beloved husband for 61 years of Helen (Murphy) Miggins, passed way Wednesday, (November 24, 2010), surrounded by his loving family. Born in White Plains, NY, son of the late John J. and Johanna (Sullivan) Miggins, he was raised in the Bronx, NY graduating from Power Memorial High School. After high school graduation at age 18, he began a career as a professional baseball player in the Cincinnati Reds franchise playing for the Fort Lauderdale Tarpons from 1940-1942. Baseball was a sport that John loved, played and would be involved with throughout his life. He moved up in the ranks eventually playing for the Syracuse Chiefs, a Triple A team. In 1942, John put his professional baseball career on hold, volunteering for the US Navy and serving through World War II. While with the Navy, John studied aerography at Bates College and M.I.T., eventually being assigned to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba with the Navy Hurricane Microseismic Research Project. There John was among some of the first flight crews ever to fly into and study hurricanes. After the war he returned to baseball, playing with various minor league teams including the Port Chester Clippers in 1948. During this time he attended Iona College, coaching their baseball team and receiving his BA degree in 1949. After his marriage, John worked as a New York City fireman prior to joining the FBI in 1951. He served with the FBI for eight years, working in the Washington, D.C. and New York City offices. He was past Chairman of the Connecticut Chapter of the Former FBI Agents Association. He retired in 1987 as Corporate Director of Management Development and Training for the former Combustion Engineering Co of Windsor. Always the gentleman, John was known as a man of true integrity. While his careers were dynamically diverse and exciting, his family was his treasure and he loved family gatherings more than anything. John had also a great love and appreciation for music; playing violin as a child, dancing with Helen to big band swing, enjoying his beloved Irish music, and passing this love on to his children and grandchildren. He and his family lived in Windsor and Trumbull before moving to Farmington in 1987. Besides his wife Helen he leaves three sons John "Jay" B. Miggins and his wife Mimi Baker of Milford, Terrance M. Miggins and his wife Debbie of E. Windsor, and Brendan T. Miggins of Farmington; his daughter Janis E. Vignati and her husband Frank Vignati, Jr. of East Hartford; five grandchildren whom he adored Claire, Jack, and Lauren Miggins and Brian and Allison Vignati; a brother Lawrence Miggins and his wife Kathleen of Houston, TX; a sister Eileen Miggins Hoppenthal and her husband Jake of Laguna Hills, CA; sisters-in-law Rita B. Miggins of Boca Raton, FL and Mary M. Bowie of West Hartford; brother-in-law Arthur J. Mulligan of Charleston, RI; and many dear nieces, nephews, cousins and friends throughout the United States and Ireland. He was predeceased by his brothers Robert and James Miggins, his nephew Rory Miggins, and other brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law. His family will receive friends Monday, (November 29), from 2 - 4 and 6 - 8 p.m. at the Carmon Funeral Home & Family Center, 301 Country Club Road, Avon. Family and friends may gather Tuesday, (November 30); 9 a.m. at the Carmon Funeral Home in Avon followed by a Mass of Christian Burial 10 a.m. in the Church of St. Patrick- St. Anthony 285 Church Street, Hartford. Burial with military honors will follow in St. Mary Cemetery, East Hartford. Contributions may be made to Church of St. Patrick Building Fund, PO Box 523, Farmington, CT 06034-0523 or St. Jude Children's Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. For online expressions of sympathy please visit www.carmonfuneralhome.com.