John Donald Morrison

John Donald Morrison, 90, died Friday, February, 6, 2015 at Edgehill, Senior Living in Stamford, Connecticut. Born June 22, 1924 in New Haven, Connecticut son of John D. Morrison and Letitia Florence Reynolds. He grew up in Hamden, Connecticut, graduated Hamden High School, Yale University, 1948 and Harvard Law School, 1951.

During WWII, John served with the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1943 to 1945. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant in 1944 and completed a tour of 50 combat missions in the European Theater of Operations as Bombardier-Navigator with the B-24 Heavy Bombardment Group.

In 1951 John joined the Central Intelligence Agency, serving tours of duty in Japan (1952-1954) and Frankfurt, Germany (1958-1964.) As a lawyer, he served in the Office of General Counsel, ultimately appointed Deputy General Counsel. In 1974, he was awarded the Intelligence Medal of Merit for exceptionally meritorious service. After retirement from CIA, John ran a private practice of law until fully retiring in 1994. In retirement he was an active member of and volunteer at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, Virginia.

John was a loving husband and father. He and his wife of 56 years, Mary Christine Parker of Glens Falls, New York met in Washington, D.C. They resided most of their married life in McLean, Virginia before moving to Stamford, Connecticut in 2013.

John’s interests encompassed golf, tennis, family genealogy, history and politics. His lifespan ran from the Great Depression, Polio Epidemics of the 30’s and 40’s, WWII, Cold War, Baby Boom, Vietnam, Watergate, Middle East Conflicts, Civil and Gay Rights movements. The experiences of his youth included radio shows, electric trains, and walking home from school for lunch. “Seen from the vantage point of today, that time seemed to embody the kind of family life, neighborhood and activities touted so often now as something we should return to.” Late in his life, John oft recited his fondest memories about his boyhood summers spent at Hammonasset Beach in Connecticut where his parents set up tent for the summer. John spoke of the joys of boyhood independence, staying out all day with his gang, fishing and boating, only returning home for meals.

John Morrison achieved true success in his military service, career and religious life. Ultimately though, he will be most remembered for his character as an unbendingly ethical, kind, humorous, and loyal family man. He was a joyful and devoted husband, father and grandfather who took great care in making sure that his wife, daughters and grandchildren knew how special they were to him. Called the Rock of Gibralter by his surviving wife, John Morrison, our forever man, will be dearly missed.

John Morrison’s sister, Betty Childs and his oldest daughter, Christine Murray Morrison predecease him. He is survived by his wife, Chris Morrison, daughters, Susan and Margaret Morrison, his daughter in law, Kelly Miess, son in law, Phil Alexandre, and his three grandchildren, Ian, Johnny and Nicole.

A memorial service will be held at 1 pm Friday, February 13 at Edgehill Senior Living, 122 Palmers Hill Road, Stamford, CT 06902.