John J. Fodor, Jr.

John J. Fodor Jr. 99, passed peacefully on May 4, 2024. John was a long-time resident of Fairfield and Shelton. He was the loving husband of Jacqueline Morse Fodor. He was born in Bridgeport on June 25, 1924 to the late John J. Fodor and Margaret Sabo Fodor.

As a member of the” Greatest Generation”, John performed his patriotic duties by serving in the Army Air Corps during World War Two. John was an industrious individual beginning at a very early age by forming the first school band at St. Stephen’s School at the age of ten. He played varsity basketball for Bassick High School. After discharge from the Army Air Corps, John married his high school sweetheart Dorothy Hussey. John went on to attend Columbia University and then with his first daughter Eileen in tow, moved to Ithaca, NY where he attended and received his architectural degree from Cornell.

After graduation, John moved to Syracuse, NY and began his long career at an architectural firm as a chief designer. Moving yet again with his family of five, John moved to Fairfield in 1961. He continued to design both as a senior partner and eventually created his own firm. Among many of  his accomplishments were the Childrens Zoo at Beardsley Park, Wonderland of Ice, Cathedral High School, and the Jennings Rd. Fire House in Fairfield. Retirement was not challenging enough for John so he once again went back to the drawing board and became Director of Facilities Planning and Design at Yale New Haven Hospital. He and Dorothy were married for 52 years until her passing in 1999.

John was blessed with the good fortune to meet and ultimately marry Jacqueline Morse. They resided in Shelton for the past 24 years. They enjoyed extensive travelling, visiting museums and entertaining family and friends.

John was passionate about Cornell University football and was a recruiter for many years of players from Fairfield County for the university. He was also an avid fan of UCONN women’s basketball. John was a Trustee at St. Thomas Aquinas Church for 27 years. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Lions Club, Kiwanis, Algonquin, and Sunhaven Beach Clubs, He loved to learn everything about the history of Native Americans,

John is survived by his wife Jacqueline of Shelton, His daughter Kathleen Hauslaib and son-in-law Jonathan of Southbury, and his daughter Karen Riley and son-in law Thomas of Milford. He was predeceased by his wife Dorothy, his infant daughter Mary Elizabeth, daughter Eileen and her husband Peter Zander. He leaves behind a legacy of ten grandchildren, fourteen great grandchildren, a cousin, several nieces and nephews and an array of loving extended family members.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday May 10 at 10AM at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Fairfield. Burial with full military honors will follow in St. Thomas Aquinas Cemetery. Family and friends may visit on Thursday from 4-7PM at the Spear Miller Funeral Home, 39 South Benson Rd. Fairfield, CT.