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John Durfee

John “Jack” Durfee passed away peacefully at his home in Evergreen Woods, North Branford, with his family by his side on Feb. 11, 2024. He was born in Waterbury on April 4, 1925, to Charles P. Durfee and Beatrice Miller Durfee.

He graduated from McTernan School in 1939, The Taft School in 1943, and Williams College in 1947. He fell in love with Suzanne “Sue” Cavanaugh, and they were married for 59 years. Jack worked as a sales representative for 33 years at the Anaconda American Brass Co. His job took him to Waterbury, Willoughby, Ohio, Columbus, Ohio, and 48 years in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Before children, he and Sue played golf at the Kirtland Country Club in Willoughby, where he also enjoyed taking care of his apple orchard and a large vegetable garden. Jack spent every summer at his house in Madison, and was a member of the Madison Beach Club. Much of his time was spent playing tennis, lawn bowling, backgammon, sailing, fishing and gardening. In 2006, he and Sue moved to Evergreen Woods in North Branford. While he was at Evergreen, he became very involved with several committees, including building, cinema, employee appreciation, directing the Country Store, and, for seven years, scholarship treasurer. To keep his mind active, he took up the game of bridge after 40 years.

He is predeceased by his wife, Sue; his son, John William; and his great-grandson, Thomas Joseph “TJ” Sakmar. He is survived by his three children, eight grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren who will always fondly remember him as “Boppie.” Linda D. Sakmar, her husband Joseph, of Madison, and their children, Ryan J. Sakmar, his wife Kelly, and their children Ella, Grace, and Andrew of Schwenksville, Pennsylvania; Ashley S. Nahmias, her husband Matthew, and their children, Sienna, Layla, and Nina of Duxbury, Massachusetts; Taylor D. Sakmar, his wife Alyssa, and their children, Lyla and Ava of East Falmouth, Massachusetts; Miller D. Sakmar, his wife Marisa, and their child Maeve of Kirkland, Washington; Welles P. Sakmar of Darien, and Connor C. Sakmar of Scituate, Massachusetts; Marcie D. Reed, her husband Jonathan “Jon” of East Hampton, New York, and their children, John Maxwell “Max” Reed and his wife Angela, of Richmond, Virginia, and Katie H. Reed of East Hampton, New York, and Peter C. Durfee and his wife Carol Ann of Lewis Center, Ohio. He will be truly missed by all who knew him.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 17, in St. Margaret Church in Madison. Private burial was at Riverside Cemetery in Waterbury. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Evergreen Woods Scholarship Fund, 88 Notch Hill Road, North Branford, CT 06471.