Obituary of John Coe Gavin

John Coe Gavin, 90, of Glastonbury, CT, died on Friday (April 10, 22015) at home. He was born October 3, 1924 in Crookston, Minnesota, the only child of James Leo and Mildred (Coe) Gavin. He graduated from high school in Washington D. C. and started college at Catholic University in 1942. Drafted into the Army ASTP program in 1943, he served in Europe late in WWII in the Corp of Engineers. After his discharge, he completed his Mechanical Engineering education at the Universities of New Hampshire and Michigan. As a new employee, he came to the Hartford area and the Engineering Department at Pratt and Whitney in the early years of jet engine development. He loved his job and retired in 1987 after 39 years. Active on several boards and committees at St. Augustine’s Church, he was awarded the prestigious St. Joseph Archdiocesan Medal of appreciation for outstanding service to the Church. Active in town affairs, he served on several boards & commissions, and was a longtime member of the Water Pollution & Control Authority. John & Mary Caroline Loomer were married in 1951 and lived in Glastonbury with their two children, Jim and Jain. He designed and built their Glastonbury home, and, with son, Jim, built a family cottage in Charlestown, R. I. There were many gatherings of families and friends in the ensuing years and John enjoyed swimming, boating and tennis well into his eighties. A kind, gentle, humble person with a built-in stubborn streak, John was always “Johnny-on-the-Spot to help someone in need. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Mary: son Jim and his wife Kathleen of Vernon, CT; daughter Jain of Brattleboro, VT; three grandchildren: John and his wife Melissa of South Windsor, Melissa and her husband Peter of Wilbraham, MA and Sam Lazzaro of Brattleboro VT; five great grandchildren: Jacob Ruff and James Gavin, and Ryann, Taylor and Gavin Meunier, and a special daughter, Judyanne Dickson-Hoyle from Melbourne, Australia, who lived with them for a year in 1970 under the AFS (American Field Service Program) in a wonderful relationship that continues. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday April 21, at 10 AM at St. Augustine’s Church, 55 Hopewell Rd., South Glastonbury, CT. Calling hours are Monday, April 20, at the Mulryan Funeral Home, 725 Hebron Av., Glastonbury, CT from 6-8 PM. In lieu of flowers, gifts in his memory may be made to St. Augustine’s Church, 55 Hopewell Rd., South Glastonbury, CT 06073. The Mulyran Funeral Home is in care of the arrangements.