John W. Doane, III, 74, passed away after heroically battling pneumonia since April 27th. He was the beloved son of Daphne Johnson Doane and the late John W. Doane, Jr. of Westbrook. John is survived by his wife of 35 years, Catherine Neidlinger Doane, two daughters, Jacqueline Doane Lianos and Cynthia Doane; three step-children, Jamieson Cotton, John Cotton, Jr., Kate Cotton; and five grandchildren, Adonia, Dylan, Cassandra, Allie, and Anjali.
A graduate of Westbrook High School Class of 1962, he was on the National Honor Society and Basketball team. John and wife, Cathie, had known each other since kindergarten, both remaining good friends with teacher, Jack Perretti, who was a mentor to many.
He became an Auto Flight Controls Specialist for the United States Air Force during the Vietnam Campaign and graduated from UConn in 1971 with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering. In 1970, he began his 36 year career with CL&P, ending as Senior Circuit Owner in Waterford. He had been a member of the “Odd Squad” when working in Madison, always mindful that when doling out a task that there were many ways to achieve the outcome. Whatever he did, he made it fun.
He served his Enfield Community as Neighborhood Commissioner for Boy Scouts of America, Assistant Team Manager for the Petticoat Softball League, marched as a third Westbrook generation Doane family snare drummer and with the Enfield Minutemen in 1976, was a member of the Parkman PTO, served on the Westbrook Board of Finance, the Ad Hoc Charter Study Committee, and was a member of the Westbrook Land Trust and Westbrook Historical Society.
Athletically inclined, he loved tennis, walking the trails of Westbrook and walking his dogs along the beach. He loved fishing, woodworking, cooking apple fritters, and riding “Big Yeller,” his riding mower.
Most of all, he LOVED LIFE! He challenged the verdict in 1989, facing lung cancer that he had 6 months to live. Determined to live every day to its fullest, he and his collie, “Macduff,” walked together for 13 years, as he continued to do with his last dog, “Brigham.” He loved his cats, and looked forward to the returning osprey, all whom had left the area during this season of John’s passing. One man wrote of him in 1990, “I know it’s a battle you’re going to win because you simply do not consider losing in anything.” John never gave up. Truly this strong, courageous, kind, respectful, humorous, and “good man” was quietly notable among us.
Calling hours will be held on Friday, Oct. 5th from 4 pm to 8 pm at Swan’s Funeral Home in Old Saybrook. Memorial Service will be held at the First Congregational Church of Westbrook on Saturday, Oct. 6th at 10:30 am. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in John’s name to: Westbrook Land Conservation Trust, P.O. Box 1124, Westbrook, Conn. 06498 or, to the Westbrook Historical Society, Inc., P.O. Box 148, Westbrook, Conn. 06498.
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