John Edward West
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John Edward West, 67, of Durham, passed away on June 21, 2021 in the company of his loving wife, Chris. John was visited, entertained, phone called and surrounded by many dear friends and family members at the Comfort Care Unit at Middlesex Hospital and for months preceding his admission there. Each one of his friends and family meant the world to him. Born in Middletown, he was the son of the late John Henry and Barbara Jean West. He graduated in the second graduating class of Coginchaug Regional High School in 1972.
John was a true artist. The media he most often used to show his talents were his carpentry skills, his music and his photography. He worked as a cabinet maker and finish carpenter. He played the guitar, harmonica, piano and drums. John could make percussion out of any household item that was handy if impromptu music came up at a party. He formally played guitar in local bands, Heartland, and more recently, CJ West and The Downtown Train. He did plenty of informal 'horsing around' with the Players Night Irregulars. He sang with the Notre Dame Folk Group for about twenty years. John loved the beach, nature and the beauty of the world. He loved fishing and water sports. Block Island was his favorite place to be. John captured his love of nature with photography. He was a long-time committee member of the photography department at The Durham Fair.
Besides John's artistic aspects, he was very talented with many other things. His friends called him "The Wizard", "because of the wonderful things he does." He could fix a car, replace a window, build a piece of furniture, troubleshoot a computer, cook a great meal, build a boogie-board, teach a cat how to bark, make a key for a locked case out of a broken screw driver and practically anything else that came his way.
Besides his loving wife of 40 years, Christine Satagaj West, John leaves his three adoring cats, his sister, Lorrie Martin and her husband, Bill, of Durham, and his sister Elaine Woodard and her husband Craig, of Missouri. He leaves his best friend and cousin, Mark Pagano, of Virginia, to carry on the shenanigans. He also leaves his nephews Nathan Woodard (Laura), Daniel Woodard and Geoffrey Martin (Kate), and his niece Samantha Satagaj, as well as many, many dear friends.
In lieu of flowers, donations in John's memory may be made to Cat Tales of Connecticut at http://cattalesct.org/donate/. John's family gives heartfelt thanks to the wonderful and very caring nurses and staff on the Comfort Care Unit.
John's family will receive relatives and friends at the Doolittle Funeral Home, 14 Old Church Street, Middletown, CT on Sunday, June 27th from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held the next morning, Monday, June 28th at 10:00 am at Notre Dame Church, 272 Main Street, Durham, CT where Our Lady of Mercy Parish is live streaming the service at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOhZPxlu3W124CpRaIfGAig. Interment will follow in Mica Hill Cemetery, Mica Hill Road, Durham, CT. For online condolences and information, please visit www.doolittlefuneralservice.com.