Obituary of John Bisset

John W. Bisset June 26, 1937-March 10. 2014, John slept into eternity following a day long struggle with respiratory congestion after a long a valiant battle with Parkinson's Disease with Lewy Body Dementia. He always did his best in every endeavor and his loving family tried to do their best for him. He was loved and appreciated and enjoyed all his life. He died at home in his own bed in the care of his loved ones, his awesome care giver, Miro Myslinsky and a hospice nurse. Early on he showed his character. Every spring he assisted the Sunday school children with planting flower seeds in paper cups during Lent for Easter transplanting. He then took all the cups home and replanted every seed to the right depth. He nurtured those plants until Easter. Every child had a healthy flower seedling to take home at Easter. John was an avid Boy Scout. Every year the National Boy Scouts of America had a Camporee in Washington, D.C. One year his patrol won first prize for the Best Campsite and Best food. Going to school in D. C. every high school had ROTC. John became a rifle sharpshooter taking his rifle on the city bus to competitions. He was active in the Presbyterian Church just one block from his home in D.C. It was there he met his future wife, Barbara Ewen. He was a paper boy until he graduated from Coolidge High School. While attending the University of Maryland, he delivered the "complaints" to people who had not received their papers. The papers plus working all holidays at the Nosegay Flower shop and 2 summers at Potomac Electric Power Company paid his way through college. He was invited to membership in three academic honorary societies for his scholastic achievement and leadership in the Clark School of engineering. John and Barbara were engaged on July 4th 1958 and they married just 10 days after they both graduated in 1959. Armed with his B.S. John was employed by Pratt and Whitney Aircraft from July 1959 through March 1991. In 1961 John received his master's degree in thermo dynamics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. The second great love of John's life was CARS! He started with Hot Rod Magazine, Joined the Sports Car Club of America and over the next 50 years he subscribed to almost every major auto magazine. He went to SCCA Drivers School hoping to race his car. In 1969 he bought a BMW 2500, became a member of the BMW CCA, and was a charter member of the Connecticut Valley Chapter of BMW CCA. John and Barbara attended 32 National BMW CCA Oktoberfests, the Annual National Convention of the BMW CCA. John got to drive his 1981 BMW 320i on many race courses across the United States. The club was a constant path to wonderful car activities and equally wonderful friends all across the country. In 1969 John and 4 friends went into business together, Dan Gurney's Checkpoint America, DBA Performance Automotive. A few of those men and their families became life-long friends. The business failed but John called it his MBA degree. He revived the business in 1970. It continued to grow and is now owned by 3rd son Jonathan and his family. John continued at P&W. He chafed at the bit while the salary schedule was increased every time he was on the verge of promotion. Finally he was one of the first engineers on the International Aero Engines Consortium. He spent his last 10 years at Pratt on that program which engineered a paper engine that was built and "ran" the first time is was tested. He received a Special Award for his work to make that happen. That V2500 Engine is still a main stay of P & W product line. John was married to the love of his life for 54 years and 8 months not counting the7 years they dated. John is survived by his wife Barbara, their 3 sons Colin and his wife Lynn and her 3 children, Jeffrey and his wife Cindi, and Jonathan and his wife Karen and their 2 daughters Holly Grace 8, and Emily Rose 6., John's sister Joan Truesdale of Horizon City Tx, Her 3 sons: Bruce and wife Holly, Thom and his wife Betsy, and David and his wife Charla and daughter Amy and all their children and grandchildren. Barbara's Sister Suzanne Ross, her children Suzanne and her family and Peter and his daughter. John was a beloved husband, father, brother, grandfather and uncle and he loved them all with all his heart. John's life will be celebrated on Saturday, March 15 at 3:00pm in the Congregational Church of South Glastonbury, 949 Main St., South Glastonbury. Friends may call at the Mulryan Funeral Home, 725 Hebron Ave., Glastonbury, Friday, March 14, from 5-8. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to any of the following: The Connecticut Hospice, 100 Double Beach Rd, Branford, CT 06405, Lewy Body Dementia Association, 912 Killian Hill Road, S.W., Lilburn, GA 30047, Parkinson's Disease Foundation, 1359 Broadway, Suite 1509, New York, NY 10018, The BMW CCA Foundation, 190 Manatee Court Greer, South Carolina 29651, or the Congregational Church of South Glastonbury.