John Roger "Jack" Fawcett
Marriages
Diane Fawcett
Divorced. Survived by life partner, Helen-Ann Comstock.
Obituaries
New Canaan Advertiser - January 28, 2014
ohn Roger “Jack” Fawcett, 77, of Ridgefield, formerly of New Canaan, died on Jan. 22, 2014.
He was born in Greenwich on April 17, 1936, son of Roger Knowlton Fawcett and Helen Aline Berquist. He attended Greenwich Country Day School, graduated from Eaglebrook School, Lawrenceville, Lehigh University, and received his law degree from Vanderbilt University.
He was a member of Chi Psi fraternity. He practiced law in New York City and was legal counsel for the sale of Fawcett Publications to CBS in 1976.
After retiring from law practice he moved to Avon, Colo., where he served on the Town Council and was mayor from 1996-98. He was an avid skier and an accomplished trapshooter and was chairman of the New York Athletic Club Trapshooting Association.
He is survived by his life partner, Helen-Ann Comstock; children, Roger, Scott, Nancy Pietrorazio and their mother, Betsy Wurtmann; son, Travis and his mother, Diana Fawcett; two grandchildren, and his brother Thomas.
Contributions in his memory may be made to Ridgefield Operation for Animal Rescue, 45 South St., Ridgefield, CT 06877. A memorial will be held in the spring.
Vail Daily page A4 - February 11, 2014
RIDGEFIELD, CONN. — An Avon original has died.
John Roger “Jack” Fawcett was one of Avon’s first mayors and served on the town council for eight years. He died in Ridgefield, Conn. He was 77.
Fawcett was mayor when the town began negotiating for the land deal that brought the big box stores to town. That deal took five years to close, but Fawcett always took the long view of things, said Buzz Reynolds, who served on the town council with him.
It started with Buzz Reynolds Sr., continued with Fawcett and Buzz Reynolds Jr. was Avon’s mayor when the town finally closed the deal.
‘SO WHAT CAN WE DO?’
“He was a bit of a character. He always had a big smile on his face,” Reynolds said. “He always faced every problem with a smile and a signature question, ‘So, what do we do?’”
Fawcett was on the Avon Town Council from 1992 to 1998 and was the mayor from 1996 to 1998. Fawcett took over as Avon’s mayor after Buzz Reynolds Sr.
Like so many of us, he migrated to the valley following a successful career.
Fawcett practiced law in New York City, and he was legal counsel during the sale of Fawcett Publications to CBS in 1976.
After retiring from law practice, he moved to Avon, where he immediately became involved in local issues and politics. He and then-wife Diane lived in Avon’s Wildridge neighborhood for two decades.
Judy Yoder was head of the Avon Arts Council and worked closely with Fawcett and the rest of the Avon Town Council to put those bronze horse sculptures into Avon’s roundabouts.
Avon’s Fawcett Road is named for him.
“He was a happy-go-lucky guy who served the council and the town well,” Reynolds said.
AVID OUTDOORSMAN
Fawcett, an avid outdoorsman, was born in Greenwich, Conn., on April 17, 1936, son of Roger Knowlton Fawcett and Helen Aline Berquist. He attended Greenwich Country Day School, graduated from Eaglebrook School in Lawrenceville, Conn., then Lehigh University, and he received his law degree from Vanderbilt University. He was a member of Chi Psi fraternity.
He was an avid skier and an accomplished trapshooter and was chairman of the New York Athletic Club Trapshooting Association.
He is survived by his life partner, Helen-Ann Comstock; children Roger, Scott and Nancy Pietrorazio; their mother, Betsy Wurtmann; son Travis and his mother, Diana Fawcett; two grandchildren; and his brother Thomas.
Memorial contributions should be made to Ridgefield Operation for Animal Rescue, 45 South St., Ridgefield, CT 06877.
Staff Writer Randy Wyrick can be reached at 970-748-2935 and rwyrick@ vaildaily.com.
