John Edward Backus

Westport – John Edward Backus, a lifelong resident of Westport, passed away peacefully on Sunday evening at Norwalk Hospital, surrounded by his two loving sons. He was 94.
Born to John and Elizabeth Backus, Edward spent his entire life in Westport. He attended Staples High School, where he excelled as a multi-talented sports performer, was a two-time All-Conference Football student-athlete and in 2003 was inducted into the Football Wall of Fame. His athletic prowess continued at the University of Bridgeport, where he was a standout football player on the first-ever team formed in 1948. He also anchored the semi-pro Westport Advertisers' offensive line from 1949 to 1951, serving as co-captain in 1951 before the team dissolved due to the Korean War. During this time, he also worked as a Compo Beach Lifeguard in 1949-50.
In 1952, Edward enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, serving with the Presidential Honor Guard for Presidents Truman and Eisenhower in Washington, DC, for two years. His love for sports endured throughout his life, whether playing football, basketball, softball, squash, racquetball, lifting, or skeet shooting, or cheering on his sons and grandchildren in various sports teams. He was an avid fan of the NY Yankees and Dallas Cowboys.
Edward coached football teams in the Westport Police Athletic League (PAL) for 10 years and received the 1989 Sportsmen of Westport Achievement Award. He also served as a board director and first VP of the Westport YMCA and was on the building committee.
Professionally, Edward worked for various news and fashion magazines, including Seventeen Magazine, Popular Science, Field & Stream, and Outdoor Life Magazine, where he retired as Advertising Director in 1995. He later served as a consultant for many years.
In his retirement years, Edward cherished his weekly breakfast gatherings at Jr's Deli and Grille in Westport with friends (known as "The Crew") Charlie Duffy, Mike Zeoli, Joe Saponare, Jerry Waldron, Pete Johnson and others; and, shared quality time at the barbershop with his longtime friend Bill Gault. He was married to Carole Mailand, who passed away in 1992 and with whom he lovingly raised two sons: John Edward Backus, Jr, (JEB) of Westport and Jared Backus of Ithaca, New York. He is survived by his five grandchildren, John Edward Backus III (Tripp), Jillian Elizabeth-Anne, Garrett Edward, Grace Carole, and Gavin, as well as his daughter-in-law, Amanda Backus, and long-time sweetheart, Mary Snyder.
Family and friends are invited to attend a funeral on Tuesday November 26, 2024 at 10:30 AM meeting directly at Assumption Church 98 riverside Ave. Westport, CT. condolences for the family may be left on line at www.hardingfuneral.com
In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to either the Westport Police Athletic League on line at www.westportpal.org or mail checks to (PAL) ATTN: Corporal Craig Bergamo, 50 Jesup Road, Westport, CT 06880 or the Lupus Foundation in Edward's memory.