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The Life of Mr. John J. Beardsworth Sr.

John Jennings "Jack" Beardsworth, Sr. 95, passed away on February 23, 2022 surrounded by his loving family in Walland, Tennessee after a brief illness. Jack was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, on November 10, 1926 to Frank and Mabel Beardsworth and graduated from Bridgeport Central High in 1944 where he met his future wife Christine Smith (1925-1995). Jack was an all-state forward on the Central varsity basketball team and an all-state split end on the varsity football team. He worked on the Bridgeport harbor oyster boats during his teenage summers and won multiple swimming trophies in the Bridgeport swimming races sponsored by the Bridgeport Brass Company, where his father Frank was an executive for 52 years. Jack's UConn Husky Basketball dreams were set aside to serve his Country in World War II. In the summer of 1944, straight out of Central High, Jack joined the United States Navy, earning commendations for his service in the Pacific and the Philippines. Jack was honorably discharged from the Navy on the 4th of July weekend in 1946 and returned home to his family and future wife Chris. As he awaited enrollment in UConn, Jack, his father and his brother Don purchased land at Lake Candlewood in Sherman, Connecticut, where they proceed to build 'the Cottage' - the place where family gathered, weeks ended, and world issues were resolved. For 75 continuous summers, Jack, his family and friends found relaxation and fun - interspersed with competitive sports and poker - at the Cottage. Once the War was won, Jack was able to enroll in the Business School at the University of Connecticut. Chris reminded him that they weren't getting married until he graduated - a great incentive to study hard! Always precise with numbers, Jack majored in Accounting and joined Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE). As it is now, the UConn Husky Basketball Team was a force to be contended with during the years when Jack was on the court. Jack was especially proud of the National Invitational Tournament (NIT) games he played as a Husky forward at Madison Square Garden in the days before the NCAAs were March Madness. 1951 was a great year. Jack began a 42-year career as a financial executive with Sikorsky Aircraft and married Chris. After three years of apartment living in Bridgeport, 1954 was the year to start a family and find the perfect place to settle. The Sandy Hook area in Newtown, Connecticut was the ideal location -it was half way between family in Bridgeport and the Lake Candlewood Cottage. Jack and Chris soon welcomed the arrival of John Jr , Susan and Lindsay The family became parishioners at Newtown Trinity Episcopal Church, where Jack dedicated many hours, ushering, serving multiple terms as Church Treasurer, and leading the mid-1960's fund raising for the new Church School. There were many, many constants - none more than a close-knit family and summers at the Lake -- and many changes. The Sandy Hook house became too small for a growing family, so Jack and family moved to a new house on a hill overlooking Newtown. By the mid-1980s, Sikorsky Aircraft needed a new Operations Manager for its West Palm Beach, Florida facility and Jack and Chris, with kids out of the house, decided to take the challenge and move to Stuart, Florida. After 42 years with Sikorsky, Jack retired in 1993. Jack and his family were crushed when Chris passed in 1995. Jack had the great fortune to meet the second love of his life, Cheryl, and they married in 2000. In 2007, Jack and Cheryl -- tired of 2 direct hits by hurricanes and distant boarding of Cheryl's horse - relocated to the magnificent views at the edge of the Smoky Mountains in Walland, Tennessee where they had room for horses (and the horse's goat companions!), gardens and a rural lifestyle. Jack loved people, gardening, sports and travel -- and he loved to drive. He especially loved driving the annual summer pilgrimage to the Candlewood Lake Cottage (which he continued into his 90s), arranging the route so he saw all three kids and their families in Virginia and North Carolina before welcoming them to the Lake. No one was surprised when in retirement Jack discovered a hobby/job as a part-time Enterprise Rent-a-Car driver - "we drive to you" (first in Florida and then in Tennessee), which he did for 25 years - again into his 90s. Jack is survived by his loving wife Cheryl D. Beardsworth of Walland, Tennessee, his son John J. Beardsworth, Jr (Judy) of Bumpass and Richmond, Virginia; his daughters Susan B. Sands (Randy) of Wilmington and Concord North Carolina, and Lindsay B Meyer (Tim) of McLean, Virginia and Sherman, Connecticut, the grandchildren he cherished, Bradley B. Sands, Brooke Sands Comisky, Thomas B. Meyer, Christy J. Meyer and Lauren J. Meyer; step-son Jonah Greene (Allison, grandchild Sophie) of Portland, Oregon, and several cousins, nieces and nephews. He was pre-deceased by his first wife Chris Beardsworth, his parents, Frank and Mabel Beardsworth, and his brother, Donald A. Beardsworth. In lieu of flowers, Jack and the family would appreciate your rooting for the UConn Husky Basketball Teams. A celebration of Jack's life will be held this summer at the Lake Candlewood Cottage in Sherman, Connecticut.

 

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