John Almstead

It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of our beloved husband, father, and grandfather, John David Almstead, who left us on November 19th at the age of 73. He was a man of incredible humor, patience and ingenuity. His passion for trains, tractors, and his lighthearted spirit will forever be remembered.

John was born on March 17, 1951 in Ossining, NY, to Harold and Lili Almstead. He married his high school sweetheart, Jan, in 1973. They moved to Chappaqua, NY, then Briarcliff, NY, and eventually Ridgefield, CT, where he and Jan raised their six sons. He started his professional career at Union Carbide. 25 years later, he left Union Carbide and went on to manage sales for a series of local Land Rover dealerships, where he formed many friendships with his coworkers and customers. Whether it was a celebrity or a regular stranger walking through the door at the dealership, he had a way of making everyone feel comfortable and at ease. He formed relationships with his customers that spanned decades. After retirement, John and Jan moved to Michigan, Vermont, and New Jersey, following their sons and their grandchildren.

John loved to spend endless hours tinkering on machines in the garage, making elaborate weekend breakfasts for his family (popovers were his specialty), sitting in front of the fire with a cat on his lap, fishing on Nantucket, listening to Glenn Miller, and finding old treasures at flea markets. He cherished big Sunday dinners and spending time with his family. He had a knack for telling a good story and for finding creative ways to fix just about anything.

John is survived by his wife of 51 years, Jan Almstead, sons John (Aimee), Brett (Amanda), Erik, Kristofer, Blake (Josh), and Graham (Jade), grandchildren Benjamin, James, Marin, Sydney, Emerson, Dahlia, and Elliot, as well as his siblings, Howard Almstead (Pat), and Sandra Murphy. John was predeceased by his sister, Nan. Memorial will be private. His family requests that those who wish to honor John's legacy do so by taking time to have a big Saturday morning breakfast while remembering your favorite stories about him. To express sympathy with a donation, please consider supporting the Dartmouth Hitchcock Cancer Center in Lebanon, NH.