John W. Watling III

John Wright Watling III passed away peacefully on January 2, 2026 at Stanford Hospital, with both of his children at his side. He was born in Ann Arbor, MI on October 23, 1934, son of the late John W. Watling, Jr. of Santa Barbara, California, and the late Clara L. Gilbert of New Canaan, Connecticut. John grew up in Grosse Pointe, Michigan and then moved to Washington D.C. during WWII. He graduated from The Taft School and then Yale University, where he earned a BA in Economics. John then earned an MBA at University of Michigan Ross School of Business before moving to NYC to begin his long and successful career as a financial advisor, spending over 40 years with White, Weld & Co/Merrill Lynch. John met his wife Beverly on a blind date in December of 1960 and they married on May 26, 1962. They moved to Greenwich, Connecticut where they lived until moving to EdgeHill in Stamford, Connecticut in 2017. John enjoyed spending the summers fishing, hiking, and enjoying nature with Beverly and their children, Jennifer and Jonathan, at their beautiful cabin along the southern shore of Lake Superior in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. John was a member of both the Indian Harbor Yacht Club and the Round Hill Club in Greenwich, Connecticut. He served on the Vestry of both Saint Barnabas Church and Christ Church in Greenwich. He also served on the Boards of both the Bruce Museum and The Taft School for 12 years. John was a wonderful husband, a loving and steadfast father, and a dear friend to so many people whose lives he touched. He is survived by his beloved wife of 63 years, Beverly Wilson Watling, and his two children, Jennifer Wright Watling, of Greenwich, Connecticut and Jonathan Prescott Watling of Yarmouth, Maine.

John is also survived by his daughter-in-law, Dana L. Peirce, and his grandchildren Hartley R. Peirce-Watling and Graham P. Peirce-Watling. Additional survivors include his sister, Christine W. Paddock of Naples, Florida, and his two brothers, W. Wright Watling of Santa Barbara, California, and Charles P. Watling of Oakview, California. He was predeceased by three brothers, James F. Watling of Holland, Michigan, Thomas L. Watling of La Jolla, California, and Andrew W. Watling of Marcellus, New York.

A memorial service will be held on January 31 at 11am at Christ Church in Greenwich, followed by a reception at the Round Hill Club.

In lieu of flowers, gifts can be made to the Christ Church Building Fund or The Taft School in Watertown, Connecticut.