John Bruce Payne

Surrounded by his loved ones, John B. Payne, age 84, of Vero Beach Florida and formerly of Fairfield and Southport Connecticut peacefully passed away on September 16, 2024. He was born on November 17, 1939 in Cleveland, Ohio and was the son of Bruce Payne and Edna Jessop Payne who predeceased him. The eldest of three boys, he was raised in Westport, Connecticut and had been a resident of Connecticut for 72 years before moving to Vero Beach. A graduate of Fairfield Country Day School and Deerfield Academy, John received his BA and MA degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After graduation, John taught for a while at Fairfield Country Day School, was an advertising account executive for Avery Hand and Company and then Treasurer and a Director of Bruce Payne and Associates in New York, international management consultants. In January 1975 he married Dorothy Spelman Currier who was the love of his life and the daughter of his middle school mathematics teacher. John and Dorothy were pillars of support for each other during their 49 years of marriage and John earned the title of being Dorothy's "favorite sous chef." In 1975 John joined Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner and Smith in New Haven Connecticut as a financial advisor, private client group. He was a Vice President and Senior Financial Advisor of Merrill Lynch when he retired in December 2012. He loved his career, assisting people with their financial needs.
At his retirement of nearly 40 years at Merrill Lynch, John renewed his interest in art, creating hundreds of detailed pencil drawings and a few dozen oil paintings. His drawings were often accompanied by informative text which he shared by email with many friends. Being a lifelong sailor, most of his artwork were marine scapes with beautiful sailboats. Occasionally he would do beautiful women and sometimes well-known celebrities and favorite pets. He was a full- time resident of Vero Beach, Florida when he died.
With his cheerful demeanor and communication skills John was active in many organizations. He was a long-time member of the Board of Trustees of Fairfield Country Day School where he served as President of the Board from 2002 to 2005. He waits the author of a book on the history of the school, titled We are Judged by Our Deeds, published in 2013. John was also a Class Agent for Deerfield Academy. He served as an officer and as Chairman of the Board of the Southport Conservancy (CT), a philanthropic and preservation organization. He was Director Emeritus at the time of his death. For several decades he was Editor and writer of "The Southport Packet," a quarterly publication of the Conservancy that focused on Southport historical events and people. John wrote a history of the Southport Congregational Church, founded in 1843. He was a former Vice President and Board member of the Sasquanaug Association, another preservation group in Southport, and he served on the Board of Directors of the Fairfield Museum and History Center, as well as being a Director of the Southport Area Association, a philanthropic organization. He was a long-time member, Governor and Past President of the Country Club of Fairfield. He was also a member of the Audubon Society and was a former secretary/treasurer of the Port Elco Boat Club. John was an associate member of Mory's Association in New Haven, Connecticut and was a long-time member of the General Alumni Association of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He was a Board member and officer of the River Mews Association, his condominium association in Vero Beach. John spent most of his life as a sailor and he was a former member of the Pequot Yacht Club in Southport, where he spent many weekends competing with his 19-foot Lightning sloop in Long Island Sound "around the buoy" races. For many years John also participated in many ocean races, including Marblehead to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Annapolis to Newport and as navigator in one of the several Newport to Bermuda races in which he participated. He also was a participant in races of the Southern Ocean Racing Circuit. John was a Commander and Education Officer of the Saugatuck River/Sail and Power Squadron, helping to teach classes in boating safety. At the time of his passing, John was a member of the Moorings Yacht and Country Club in Vero Beach. Besides sailing, a hobby of his was building dry walls and flagstone terraces at every home that he owned.
John will be fondly remembered for his cheerfulness, drive, energy, great sense of humor and positive outlook on life. He was always "upbeat" and had a genuine interest in people. His spirit of friendship and optimism was contagious and his passing leaves a void in the hearts of all who knew him.
Besides his wife, he leaves two children, Andrew S. Payne and his wife Ann of Bedford, New York, and Emily J. Hamilton and her husband Matt of Sebastian, Florida. He also leaves a brother, Geoffrey Payne of Westport, Connecticut, grandsons Stuart and Oliver Payne of Bedford, New York and grandchildren Jack, Annabel and Charlie Hamilton of Sebastian, Florida as well as several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a son, Charles Payne, of New York, a daughter, Laura Lowe of Fairfield, Connecticut and a brother, Christopher Payne of Westport, Connecticut.
His family extends special thanks for the loving care he received from the VNA hospice care providers. Memorial contributions may be made to The Moorings Educational Fund which provides educational scholarships for Moorings employees and their families.