John Entwistle Macy

Mystic - John Entwistle Macy, 87, formerly of Mystic and Fairhaven, Mass., died Monday, May 26, 2008, at Mystic Manor Nursing Home of congestive heart failure. John passed away while under the loving care of his dedicated wife, Doreen Macy, of Groton and the wonderful and conscientious staff of Mystic Manor.

John was born and raised in New Bedford, Mass., and was a direct descendent of Thomas Macy, the first European to settle on Nantucket Island. In addition to his family, John had a love affair with the water. As a child and young adult he sailed the waters of Buzzards Bay from his summer home at Widemarsh Beach.

John attended the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point. During World War II he served in the Merchant Marine Liberty Ship effort to provide material support to our allies. In 1942, his ship was sunk by enemy fire on the way to resupply the island of Malta where he was shipwrecked for three months. After that he participated in the effort to bring much needed supplies to Russia via the North Atlantic passage to the city of Murmansk.

John worked at General Dynamics for 33 years. His career started with assisting in the construction and participating in the sea trials of the Nautilus. When he retired as a refueling director in 1987, he was credited with refueling more nuclear reactors than anyone else.

Upon retirement, John and Doreen lived the yachting life on various vessels located in Fort Pierce, Fla., and Mystic, navigating the Intercoastal Waterway between Florida and Connecticut. John and Doreen also shared their life with their beloved Tootsie, a seven-year-old Jack Russell. Tootsie brought hours of happiness and peace to John.

John was predeceased in 1981 by his first wife, Margaret Burt Macy, who bore him three children, Jane Macy Pfeffer and her husband, Jim, of Essex, Andrew Macy and his wife, Maureen, of Preston, and Randall Macy of Louisville, Colo. John was also blessed with six grandchildren, Abigail and Eliza Pfeffer of Essex and Baltimore, Md., John, Brian, and Timothy Macy of Ledyard, and Alana Macy of Louisville, Colo. John was recently gifted with the birth of Charlie Macy, his first great grandchild, who brought a smile to John's face whenever he visited.

John wanted to be remembered as a good husband to two wonderful women and as a loving father to his children and grandchildren. He hoped that everyone who knew him would remember him as a kind and gentle man who always had a joyful word for his friends and acquaintances.

A memorial service will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 31, at Lighthouse Community Baptist Church, 22 Pequot Trail, Pawcatuck.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to American Heart Assoc., 5 Brookside Drive, Wallingford CT 06492.

The Dinoto Funeral Home, 17 Pearl St., historic downtown Mystic, is assisting the family.

To share a note of remembrance with his family, please visit www.dinotofuneral.com.