Deceased February 2, 2019
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In Memory
I received word from a former high school classmate that Jack Vining died at home in Columbia, Conn., on Feb. 2 following complications of a stroke. Jack was born in New Haven, Conn., and came to Willimantic, Conn., in 1948, where we played football together. Following high school, Jack spent a year at Deerfield Academy. At Amherst, Jack played football and lacrosse and was a member of Deke. He left after his sophomore year and attended Hillyer College in Hartford, where he was a member of ROTC, and then entered the Navy with the rank of lieutenant. While stationed in Puerto Rico he met Madge Alexander, a teacher at the Puerto Rico U.S. government school. They were married in Monticello, Fla., in 1958.
Jack then began an 18-year career with the Friendly Ice Cream Corp. before leaving in 1977 to buy a Dairy Queen franchise in Manchester, Conn.
Jack continued his military affiliation by joining the National Guard and was frequently a member of honor guards for military funerals. He was an avid skier, serving on ski patrols at various resorts throughout New England, and has been honored for his ski patrol service. In retirement, Jack and Madge enjoyed worldwide travel, including stays at their homes in Siesta Key, Fla., and Freeport in the Bahamas.
In addition to Madge, his wife of 60 years, Jack is survived by son Mark Vining; daughter Debbie Forde and husband Jim; son Jay and wife Sue; and daughter Lynsie White and husband David, as well as eight grandchildren.
Jack Hargreaves ’54