Obituary of John W. Dixon

John William Dixon, 80, of Marlborough passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 16, 2023 at home surrounded by his children, after a battle with cancer. He was preceded by Marylou (Stenham) Dixon, whom he was married to for 51 years until her passing in June 2022. 

Born in Washington D.C. at Georgetown University Hospital, he was the son of the late John William and Mary (Valcourt) Dixon.  He is survived by his sister, Maureen (Dixon) Ferrie and her husband Bertram of Cape Canaveral, FL, and his brother, Brian Dixon and his wife Barbara of North Branford, CT, as well as numerous nephews and nieces.   The death of John’s father in France in WWII when John was just 2, forever altered their lives.  The oldest of his siblings, John adored his mother, and worked hard starting at a young age to help support his family.   He was a 1960 graduate of Notre Dame High School in West Haven, CT.  John went on to try his hand at college, attending UCONN for a short stint, but after being caught throwing a javelin down the dormitory hallway, John opted for some time in the Army to mature a bit.  John served in the Army from 1961 to 1964, which cultivated his maturation process nicely.  John then received a B.S. from Quinnipiac College in Hamden, CT in 1969, where he was instrumental in establishing its club hockey team. John remained an avid Quinnipiac hockey fan all of his life, and was thrilled to be witness to the Bobcat’s first ever NCAA Division I National Championship title earlier this year.  Go Bobcats!  He received a M.B.A. from William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA in 1970.  John worked in the banking industry for the majority of his career, including Continental Bank, Hartford National, Connecticut Bank and Trust, Fiduciary Trust Company in NYC, and Mellon Bank in Boston.  In the twilight years of his career, John was involved in fundraising for the Smilow Cancer Center at Yale New Haven Hospital.  John loved his career, the people he met, the places he traveled to, and fine dining.  He always said if you are going to work hard, make it something you love.  John was a walking road map of the U.S., owning any geography question on Jeopardy.  With a banker’s mind, John was a fastidious balancer of his checkbook, a passion he did not share with his wife Marylou.  When not in suit and tie, John loved wearing wild colors, all things plaid or madras, and embroidered clothing.   Although John did not enjoy the beach, he often looked as if he had just stepped off the boat from Nantucket.

John is survived by his two sons, David S. Dixon and his fiancée Amy Olsen of Austin, TX, Christopher J. Dixon and his wife Michelle Buckley of Marlborough, CT, his daughter Gretchen M. Verseput and her husband Brian Verseput of Louisville, CO, and his grandchildren Maddie and Finley Dixon, Avery Olsen, and Jonathan, Henry, Caroline and George Verseput. John was predeceased by his son, Jonathan E. Dixon, in 1998.

John was active in the local Marlborough community while his kids were growing up, coaching youth soccer and baseball, and was involved in the Knights of Columbus and Lions Club.  When not on work travel, he would often be seen on the sidelines of his kids games.  He valued education very strongly, and believed the best investment he initially made was sending his children to Xavier and Mercy High Schools in Middletown, CT.  Here he believed they were set on the right path in their respective educational journeys.  John was very philanthropic, and strongly believed in supporting a variety of institutions near and dear to him and his family.   

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, July 22, 2023 at 11:00 am at St. John Fisher Church, 30 Jones Hollow Rd., Marlborough. Burial will be in Marlboro Cemetery. Friends and family may call on Friday, July 21, 2023 from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm at Mulryan Funeral Home, 725 Hebron Ave., Glastonbury.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in John’s memory to Hartford Hospital (Donate - Department of Philanthropy) or Yale New Haven Hospital (https://www.givetoynhh.org/ways-to-give).  John’s children would like to thank Hartford Healthcare at Home for the outstanding care John received, allowing him to remain in the comforts of his home for his final days.   For online condolences, please visit www.mulryanfh.com.