James H.

MacNaughton

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Enjoyed Life To [naviga:h2 style="text-indent:0in;line-height:14.0pt"]

Its Fullest

James H. MacNaughton, 89, of Newtown and previously of Fairfield, died April 3. “Mac,” as he was affectionately referred to, was born in 1922 in Newton, Mass., the son of James H. and Ruby Thresher MacNaughton.

His devoted wife of 61 years, Ann Beisel MacNaughton, predeceased Mr MacNaughton. He is survived by his three daughters, Susan Canelli of Southport, Wendy McMurtry, and her husband Callen, of Colchester, and Jamie Schroder of Pittsburgh; as well as several nieces and nephews.

He graduated from Williston Academy in Easthampton, Mass., and met Ann at Syracuse University, where he majored in architecture. Mr MacNaughton served two years in the Pacific theater in the Naval Air Force as an aerographer during World War II. After the war, he was employed by Coolidge, Shepley, Bulfinch and Abbott, Architects in Boston.

He and Ann moved to Fairfield in 1947 where he was involved in the heavy construction industry and resigned in 1987 as vice president of Petrucci Construction of Westport. At that point he returned to residential architecture, which he thoroughly enjoyed. He and Ann designed and built a new home in Newtown in 1987 and moved there from Fairfield.

While a member of the Westport Rotary Club in 1981 he received a Paul Harris Fellowship award. A past president of the Newtown Rotary Club, he also received the Service Above Self award in 1995.

He was a former member of the Board of Trustees of both the Greenfield Hill and Newtown Congregational Churches, PTA president, active in various fundraising events.

As members of the Fairfield County Hunt Club in Westport, the family also had their own stable of horses they enjoyed. Mr MacNaughton enjoyed nature, his Vermont farm, the company of a loving dog, fishing, hunting, and being a world skier. In addition, he enjoyed designing and building beautiful one-man cedar canoes and kayaks in his free time, which are still used by his daughters.

He and his big smile will be dearly missed by all who knew and adored him.

A memorial service will take place Saturday, April 14, at 11 am, at the Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West Street, Newtown.

In keeping with Mr MacNaughton’s wishes, memorial donations be made to The Williston Northampton School, Advancement Office, 19 Payson Avenue, Easthampton MA 01027 or online at www.williston.com/sslpage.aspx.

The Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street, Newtown, is assisting the family.

The Newtown Bee        April 6, 2012