Dr John Edward Bleasdale

2/4/1950 - 7/2/2025

Montville - John Edward Bleasdale, of Montville, passed away from complications of leukemia July 2, 2025, age 75, surrounded by his family. Born Feb. 4, 1950, John grew up in Seaham, England. He was the son of (the late) Thomas and Mary Alice (Taylor) Bleasdale.

John was educated in England, and received his Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Nottingham (1974). John came to the U.S. in 1975 as a research fellow at University of Michigan Medical School. Here he met his wife of 46 years, Janice Elaine (Riethmiller), who survives him. They were married in Ashland, Ohio Aug. 4, 1979, and lived in Dallas, Texas, where he was an assistant professor in the Biochemistry Department and the Cecil & Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. He became a U.S. citizen Sept. 18, 2009 (Bridgeport).

In 1986, he joined the Upjohn Company in Kalamazoo, Mich., now Pfizer (Groton), retiring in 2009, and continuing his career as a scientific review officer at the National Institutes of Health, Washington, D.C., finally retiring in 2016. He published over 60 scientific papers and books. During a fellowship at Karolinska Institute, Sweden, he was privileged to attend the 1974 Nobel Prize banquet; 1984, he organized the International Chilton Conference (Dallas); 1986, he lectured at Reproductive Biology Conference in Rome and was privileged to attend an audience with the Pope.

He was active in his churches. He was involved in his children's soccer teams, Scout troops and Montville High School musicals (Ticketmaster). In retirement, his favorite things to do were to take long walks, read, sudoku, and spend time with his family. His favorite place was the beach especially on Father's Day.

He is also survived by his daughters, Stephanie of Montville; Dr. Amy (Trevor Morrison) of N.Y.C.; son Atty. Timothy (Anna) and grandsons, Oliver and Samuel, of Waterford. He is also survived by his four loving brothers, (and their wives) of New Zealand, United Kingdom, and Portugal, nieces, nephews and great-nieces and nephews.

The family welcomes all who knew John to a Memorial Service which will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, at St. John's Episcopal Church in Niantic.

Thomas L. Neilan & Sons Funeral Home, Niantic, is assisting the family. A more detailed obituary (and his favorite charities) can be found on their website.