John Fessenden

John Paul Markworth Fessenden was born in Monterey California on September 28th, 1969. He unexpectedly passed away on November 30th, 2025. A devoted husband, father, son, brother, and friend, John leaves behind a legacy of kindness, integrity, and unwavering dedication to his family.

John is survived by his loving wife, Susan Fessenden, and his twin daughters, Brooke and Katelyn Fessenden, who were the pride and joy of his life. He is also survived by his mother, Nancy Markworth; his uncle, Paul Wuchter; his sisters, Susan Alexander and Laura Hardy, and his brother Richard Mial Fessenden. He is also survived by the mother of his children, Julie Fessenden, and her extended family. He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and all who had the privilege of knowing him.

John was known for his gentle nature, geeky humor and the genuine interest he took in everyone he met. He was the kind of person who showed up, who listened, and who made life brighter simply by being part of it. He was a highly respected professional whose impact will be missed for years to come.

John's parents met in the Navy; his father John Markworth, the commanding officer of the USS Bulloch County LST 509, and his mother, a Navy nurse at Philadelphia Naval Hospital. They married in Philadelphia in 1968, moved to Monterey, California, where his father attended the Naval Postgraduate School. John's father passed away when John was only six weeks old.

John and his mother then moved to Stow, Ohio, to live with his grandparents before returning to Monterey, where she met and married Richard Fessenden in 1974, who adopted John. The family then moved to Iceland for Richard's Naval posting, where they celebrated America's bicentennial in 1975 by touring the country's valleys and glaciers.

In 1976 they moved to Warminster Pennsylvania, where they lived in a 200-year-old farmhouse for four years, and finally settled in Arlington, Virginia, where Richard was stationed at the Pentagon and John graduated from high school. A bright and knowledgeable child who taught himself to read in kindergarten, John was a devoted big brother to his younger sisters. His brotherly mission was always to make them laugh. He enjoyed playing baseball, pitching a "no hitter" on his Little League team, and was passionate about Dungeons and Dragons and reading science fiction, a passion that led to his first job as a library aide.

Though gone too soon, John's memory will live on through the love he shared, the example he set, and the many lives he touched.

The family welcomes all who wish to honor John's life to attend the service.

In keeping with John's dedication to his family, in lieu of flowers his loved ones ask that you donate to the following Go Fund Me which supports a family member in need:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/providing-the-blessing-nathan-needs-to-live