Obituary of John Dufford

John M. Dufford, 93 of South Glastonbury, passed away peacefully at home on January 29, 2015. John was born in Beech Woods PA to James Claire and Ruth Mapes Dufford on February 9th, 1921. He moved with his family to Glastonbury in 1923 and attended Glastonbury Public Schools, graduating in 1939. During his high school days he played varsity soccer, basketball and baseball. John studied engineering at Penn State University. He made the freshman football team, soccer in his junior year, but was spotted as a talented skater at Penn State University by coach "Doc" Davis in 1939-41. He was captain and the high scorer for the varsity team. In the summer of 1940 he took FAA Ground School Training at Brainard Field and qualified for his private pilot's license. In April of 1942, he was a naval cadet at UNC /Chapel Hill. He continued his flight training as a Marine Reserve fighter pilot from November 1942. He served two tours as a fighter pilot in the Marshall Islands during World War II. He married Joan Woodside in 1945. They were married for 67 years until Joan's death in 2013. After WWII he founded Dufford Seaplane Base on the Connecticut River in South Glastonbury offering flying lessons and charter flights around New England. At that time he also made a proposal to build an airport for Glastonbury. When the Korean War broke out, John was recalled to service and again flew fighter planes in combat, this time over North Korea. He retired from the Marine Corps Reserve after 20 years with the rank of Lt. Colonel. John also served in the Civil Air Patrol in the 1970's and '80s. John returned to Penn State after Korea, graduating in Engineering in 1955. He then worked at Pratt and Whitney designing a nuclear aviation engine. In 1958 he founded Dufford Drilling Company in Glastonbury. The business continues today in the capable hands of his protégé, Uwe Roehrl. Over the years, John served as a director of the Northeast Water Well Assoc., the Mid Atlantic Water Well Board, and officer of the Ct Water Well Assoc. He received the Life Member award from the National Ground Water Association and the distinguished Service Award from the Ct. Water Well Assoc. The Connecticut annual well drillers workshop was a product of his interest in raising the status of the profession. John was very committed to his community and profession. He was the last living founding member of the Glastonbury Rotary Club and served as president of the club 1975-76. He received the Paul Harris Award in 1996. As the first commandant of the Peter P. Monaco Detachment of the Marine Corps League in Glastonbury, he spearheaded the establishment of a club house for activities which included a youth Marine Patrol. He marched in the Memorial Day parade in Glastonbury every year until he was persuaded to ride in 2012. John was a gifted athlete, a great competitor and a born organizer. He especially loved hockey and baseball. He organized a traveling baseball league of youth when he was only ten, paying for the travel and equipment with money he earned selling eggs from his own chickens. More recently, he played softball, enjoying the camaraderie and competition of the over-55 Softball League until he was 91. He also was also player/coach of the Glastonbury Rotary Softball team. In the late 1930's, John was a member of the Glastonbury Blue Devils ice hockey team. In the early 1970's he built the Glastonbury Ice Arena which was the home ice of an independent Junior A level team, the Glastonbury Blue Devils. John coached the team which included his son, Jim. A great booster of Penn State University and, especially, of its hockey program, John participated in the annual Hockey reunion (in the 1980s and 1990s with both his son and grandson) until 2013, as well as in the local PSU alumni association. It was his enthusiasm for restoring the PSU Ice Hockey Club to varsity status which inspired the donation of funds to build a sophisticated rink for the program. John was active in Rotary, Retreads and the regular Tuesday morning coffee group of softball players until December 2014. He had organized his high school class reunions for the past decade. He is survived by one brother and sister-in-law, Bill and Suzanne; daughter and son-in-law, Leanne and Graham; son and daughter-in-law, Jim and June; and grandchildren, Aaron, Hannah, Anthony and Naomi. Calling hours will be held on Thursday, February 5th, at Mulryan Funeral Home, 725 Hebron Avenue, Glastonbury from 4-7 pm. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 28th, at the Congregational Church in South Glastonbury at 11 am. In lieu of flowers, donations in John's name by be made to www.marineshelpingmarines.org