John Alan Paton

Lindsay Paton. The family moved to Alexandria, Virginia and later to Glen Burnie, Maryland.

He graduated from Baltimore Polytechnic High School in Baltimore and then spent the next decade

at Cornell University, earning a Bachelors in Electrical Engineering and Masters and Doctorate

degrees in Neurobiology and Behavior. Post-doctoral work followed at Princeton University and

Rockefeller University. His contributions to science include the development of an optical

method to non-invasively measure the movements of the eardrum, and the discovery that brain

cells born in adulthood are functioning neurons that are integrated into existing circuitry. He then

took on administrative posts in academic computing at Yale University School of Medicine and

Quinnipiac University.

John was a life-long learner, a keen observer of the world, and a voracious reader. He sought understanding everywhere he looked, in nature, engineering, history and in current events. He enjoyed many hobbies, especially photography, chess,and book club. He served on the Board of Kensington Acres North, and was a member of the Madison Winter Club and the Coastal Camera Club. His favorite times were spent with family and friends all of whom will miss him tremendously.

He leaves behind his wife Susan of Madison, his son Christopher and wife Laura and their daughters Louisa and Rebecca of Charleston, SC and his son Joseph and his wife Julia and their sons Timóteo and Oliver of Lisbon, Portugal and two sisters, Ellen Paton Diamond (and husband Joseph) of Greencastle,

PA and Jean Lindsay Paton (and partner Joseph di Francesa) of Franklin, NY along with

nephews Alex and Derrick Diamond and JoEllen Tosten and their children.

The family is forever indebted to his team of caregivers, especially Eileen Schiess and Morina Moore.

A memorial service is being planned for early spring in Madison. Contributions in John’s memory

may be made to causes in which he deeply believed - Parkinson Voice Project

(parkinsonsvoiceproject.org) and Rock Steady Boxing at Squared Circle Studio in Deep River,

where a fund has been established to enable all to participate in Parkinson’s boxing.