John A. Bett

John Bett passed away at Danbury Hospice on January 24th in the company of his family and close friends. The husband of Emily Bett, a New Haven based artist, who passed in 2021 he leaves behind his daughter, Alison and son-in-law Dr. Jens Hartmann of Westport, CT. John was born in Dehradun, India on November 19th, 1933, spent his formative years in Scotland graduating from St. Andrews University and arrived in America on a Fulbright scholarship. He completed his PhD in Chemistry at the Illinois Institute of Technology under Martin and Mary Fitzpatrick and most importantly met his wife Emily, who was studying at the University of Chicago. He spent his career working on Fuel Cell Technology, primarily in the United Technology Research Division. In early retirement he lectured at Yale University and worked at the Los Alamos National Lab (LANL) with Dr. Shimshon Gottesfeld, a leader in fuel cell science and technology. In retirement he reignited his devotion to Golf acquired in St. Andrews and ignited his early interests in visual Arts and History becoming a docent at both the Yale Art Gallery and the British Art Center. He contributed to the communities in which he lived and offered his time and effort to numerous people and organizations including the Unitarian Universalist Society of Hamden, the United Church on the Green and Connecticut Hospice.

He was a devoted husband and father and much cherished by those who knew him.

A memorial service will be held on March 1 st at 11am at the Saugatuck Congregational Church in Westport, CT. The service can also be viewed live online for those unable to attend in person. Please contact alisonbetthartmann@yahoo.com prior to the day to receive the link. Gifts can be made to Connecticut Hospice in lieu of flowers.