"Merry Christmas - Dad & PoppaWe miss you and you will always be in our hearts!Jeff, Joannie, Jet, Bill, Cody & Maddie"
In loving memory of
John O. Thayer
April 2, 1925 - October 21, 2011
PORTSMOUTH, RI - John O. Thayer, 86, of 28 Redwood Road, Portsmouth, RI, Portsmouth Town Administrator and Town Moderator, passed away on Friday, October 21, 2011, at Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI. He was the husband of Anne Nixon Thayer. Born in Pawtucket, RI on April 2, 1925, he was the son of the late Edward Alanson and Gertrude McCullough Thayer. Mr. Thayer was a direct descendent of Thomas Thayer who with his brother Richard founded Braintree, Massachusetts. John attended Jamestown Elementary School and graduated from Rogers High School Class of 1943. He enlisted in the Army Air Force in 1943, and flew in B-24 Heavy Bombers during WWII with the 15th AF in Italy. John was awarded the Air Medal, the European Theatre Medal with 4 Battle Stars, the American Theatre Campaign, the Good Conduct Medal and a Presidential Group Citation Medal. Mr. Thayer was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 1007, Fort Myers, FL. Mr. Thayer was the Portsmouth Town Administrator for over 17 years, retiring in 1990, and Town Moderator from 1970 to 1973. As Town Moderator he was credited with introducing parliamentary procedure to the annual Town Meeting. He was also noted as being a fair man who did not allow politics to sway his decisions. Mr. Thayer was a member of the Portsmouth Budget Committee from 1962 to 1964. He also served on the Building Committees for the Town Hall Expansion and the Police Station. He was a charter member of the Portsmouth Senior Center and served one term on the Board of Directors. John was a lead person in the sale and the development of Henry F. Anthony School into a Senior Living Complex. Although Mr. Thayer was credited with a number of outstanding achievements during his term of office he took pride in the acquiring and development of Melville Ponds Campground. He assisted and signed the lease for the acquisition of the property from the United States Government. In 1949 he graduated from the University of Rhode Island. John was the recipient of the prestigious Rhode Island Expenditure Councils Robert Goodrich Award as the Municipal Man of the Year. He was also the first appointed official to serve as President of the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns from 1981-1982. During his term he was appointed by Governor Joseph P. Garrahy to serve on the distinguished Howard Swearer Commission. Mr. Thayer was a communicant of St. Barnabas Church. He served for over twenty five years on the Board and was a lectuer for many years. John was a lifetime member of the Chirstopher Rooney Council Knights of Columbus, a member of the Green Valley Country Club and served six years, two as president on the board. He was instrumental in reestablishing the Babe Ruth Program in the mid 1960s. He served thirteen years in the Portsmouth Little League as a manager. John was a member of the Portsmouth Booster Club and for a number of years served as the Public Address announcer for the high school football games. He served as Treasurer for the Cub Scouts and later became a Committee man for BSA Troop 1, he was also a member of the Town Howlers Square Dance Club for twenty years. At his retirement Mr. Thayer was honored by having Thayer Drive named in his honor. Since his retirement Mr. Thayer had established winter quarters in Ft. Myers, FL. He was overwhelming elected to serve on the Board of Directors for a 685 unit condo association for many years. Mr. Mrs. Thayer enjoyed traveling through Europe and cruising the Caribbean. Besides his wife, he is survived by his children, Dr. John Thayer, Jr. and his wife Elizabeth Thayer of Avon, CT, Mark Thayer, Esq. and his wife Terri-Lynn Thayer of Portsmouth, RI, Jeffrey Thayer and his wife Joan Thayer of Omaha, NE, Laure Thayer of Portsmouth, RI, Wendy A. Thayer-Aiken and her husband George Aiken of Windsor, CA, and Cynthia Moffitt Underhill and her husband John Underhill of South Kingstown, RI, and fourteen grandchildren. He was the brother of the late Alanson Thayer II and Edward A. Thayer Jr. His funeral will be held on Monday, October 24, 2011, at 9:00AM, from the Connors Funeral Home, 55 West Main Road, Portsmouth, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00AM, in St. Barnabas Church, 1697 East Main Road, Portsmouth. Burial will be in St. Columbas Cemetery in Middletown.Calling hours will be held on Sunday, from 4:00-7:00PM, in the funeral home.
Tributes
"Deepest thoughts of sympathy to all the family. I just came across it, had no idea. God Bless You All..John was a wonderful man and loved by all."
"Mark, I was very sorry to learn of your Dad's passing. Ed and I send our sincere condolences to you and all of your family."
"To the Thayer Family, I would like to pass on my dearest and heart felt condolences with the passing of Mr. Thayer."
"Such a beautiful family he and Mom created, he must have been so proud! My thoughts and prayers are with you all."
"Dear Anne, So very sorry to hear of John's passing...He was a great guy to all who knew him... We valued his friendship greatly in Palmetto Palms....."
"Jack, Laurie, Mark, Jeff, Wendy, Cyndy, Your father was was a wonderful man. When we were kids he was a larger than life figure in the neighborhood. I will never forget the way he supported and encouraged us as our baseball coach. Later on I would see him at Green Valley and he would tell me about all of you. I looked forward to those conversations because they brought back so many fond memories and because it was such a pleasure to talk to your Dad. He never changed. Always a warm smile and a kind word. I am sorry for your loss. Please pass on my condolences to your Mom. Mike O'Connell"
"Anne and Family, My thoughts and prayers are with you all. John was a friend and mentor to many and will never be forgotten. May the comfort and prayers of your friends and family ease your loss at this time."
"My condolences to the entire Thayer Family. Mr. Thayer was a good man to all the kids growing up and a good man for the Town of Portsmouth. Our family was deeply saddened by the news. God Bless Him"
"Lisa and I are praying for you and your family during this difficult time."
"To the Thayer Family - I am very sorry for your loss. Mr Thayer was a very giving person to the people and the kids in the Town of Portsmouth. I hope you are comforted by the memories you have and the knowledge that the lives of so many people are better today because of his work and his life. He will be missed my so many. My thoughts and my prayers are with you."
"John Thayer will always be rememberd as a true,honest and caring gentleman. It was a great honor to have served under his leadership. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family."
"To all the Thayer family, My condolences and sympathy at this time. We have all lost a man who was special because he took the time to be a shining example for us all and simply cared. He will be truly missed and always remembered fondly. Richard E Drake"
"Anne and Family: I was saddened to learn that John passed away. I enjoyed working with John - good and bad days!! He did a lot for our Town - he will be missed by many. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this time of loss."
"Mrs. Thayer, Jack, Laure, Wendy, Mark, Jeff and Cindy - You have been in my thoughts these past few days since I learned of the passing of Mr. Thayer. I have so many great memories of him and your entire family growing up in Redwood farms and then attending the various weddings and family events over the years. I will miss his great smile and how he used to call me Jeannie. I am sorry I could not attend the services. It was a great comfort to me and my family when most of the Thayer family was there for us when my Dad passed in 2006 and wish I could have done the same for all of you. Take care of eachother. Our love and sympathy to you all. Jean Drake Fucile & Family"
"Dear Anne, So sorry about the loss of your dear John. He certainly was a wonderful man. Our love to you and your family."
"Dear Mrs. Thayer, I am sorry to hear of the passing of your husband. May God hold you close. -Mary Marshall"
"So many wonderful memories of my second family. We were all one big Redwood Farms family back then. I was very glad to have know John Thayer. So sad that we have lost another great man. My thoughts and prayers are with you all. I wish I could have been there to support you."
"Mrs. Thayer and Family, I am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts are with all of you during this difficult time. Adam, I love you."
"Anne and Family, Sincere and understanding sympathy to you all. John was a good man and we have many wonderful memories of him and remember all the laughs we had. He will be missed and I know that you will be comforted in time by those happy memories. God bless you all, Rosemary Davidson and Family"
"Mark, I wanted to extend my condolences to you on your dad's passing and to tell you that you and your family will be in my prayers."
"We want to extend our condolences to the entire Thayer family. Mr Thayer was a great man and he will be missed by all. From the entire Buddemeyer family our thoughts and prayers are with you in this time."
"Dear Wendy, Ann, Laurie, Mark, Jeff and Cindy and families, So sorry to hear of John's death Mr. Thayer to me. I have many fond memories of time spent in the Thayer house and will always remember how friendly and welcoming the Mr and Mrs Thayer and the family was to me. The house was the gateway into the wonderful world of Redwood Farms, which was THE place to hang out back in the early 70's in Portsmouth! I am sorry that I cannot be there with you and thank my brother Jim for forwarding the obituary to me this morning. I hope that at this sad time you can hold on to the great memories you have of your Dad and husband. Fondly, Rick Manning"
"Marguerite and I are saddend by the loss of John. I gotten to know John through the years as a kind and gentle soul and he will be missed. RIP"
"Dear Anne and Family, We are so very sorry for your loss and ours. We will miss John and all the good times we had. Anne, it is difficult, but you will get through this. Love, your friend, Helene and family"
"Anne, Was so sorry to hear about John. My prayers and sympathy are with you and the family. He will be missed by many. Love and prayers Carolyn Lovato"
"So sorry to hear about the passing of John. He will be missed. Our prayers are with you, Anne, and all the family. Ed and Ocie Stephens"
"John,it's hard to believe I won't be able to play golf with you again. Enjoyed taking your money. To Anne and family, I'll miss him, but we do have the memories. Hope you are doing OK."
"Our hearts are deeply saddened by John's passing. What a fine gentleman he was & what wonderful memories of his smile & kind ways. Ann - we are keeping you & the family in our prayers. May God give you the strength you need at this time & in the days ahead."
"We are so sorry for your great loss. Will miss him!! Love, Doug and Marge"
"Wendy - Your dad and I talked and a couple of times a year about Theta Chi and he always took time to tell me the latest news about you. He was gracious and thoughtful and an example for us all."
"Dear Family, We knew John from Green Valley during the 1980s. Always greeted you with a handshake and a smile. He spoke well of everyone. He was a gentlemen. With sympathy,"
"To the Thayer family, My sincerest condolences on your loss. I played many enjoyable rounds of golf with Mr. Thayer. I wish I knew more people with his character. I'll miss him."
"Our deepest sympathies on your lost. Our prayers are with you and your family."
"Laure...sorry for your loss."
"To all the Thayer family ... my deepest sympathies on the loss of a great man. Your husband/Dad was one of my role models in life. I'll never forget all the great advice and encouragement he gave me through the years. He left a great legacy with the all the work he did in Town and more importantly the wonderful family he raised. I'll miss him greatly. ... Ray Marshall"