Jack Leland Spangler, 86, died peacefully at his home in Essex on Oct. 6. He was the loving husband of the late Frances B. Spangler. Jack and Frances were residents of Rowayton for over 40 years, and Jack had been a fulltime Essex resident for the past 10 to14 years.  Jack was born in Ames, Iowa and raised in Wilmette, Illinois, where he grew up with his faithful friends, the “Harbor Rats,” at the Sheridan Shore Yacht club, developing his passion for and love of sailing.

Jack was a proud veteran officer of the U. S. Navy serving on the Destroyer USS Jeffers during World War ll. He was a graduate of Nutrier High School in Wilmette, Illinois and attended Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Indiana, graduating from Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois, where he received his undergraduate degree. Jack would later receive a master’s degree in business administration from Harvard Business School in Boston, Massachusetts.

Jack was the former owner of Esico-Triton, International of Deep River, a manufacturing company of hand soldering tools. He was also an avid yachtsman and member of the Norwalk Yacht Club, the Essex Yacht Club, and he was a 52-year member of The Corinthians. Jack had just received his 50-year membership plaque from Mystic Seaport in Mystic.

Jack loved life and lived it right up to the end. Earlier in the week, Jack had had a “fabulous” lunch visit with granddaughter Jessica at her restaurant, “Jessie’s” in Old Lyme, and later in the day rode motorcycles with his son, a passion they shared together, then finished up the day dining with friends while enjoying live jazz music.

Later in life, Jack embraced the digital age. While many his age refused to learn, Jack jumped into computers and email. He just loved the ease with which he could stay in touch with friends near and far at the press of a button. 

Jack will be sorely missed by the many close friends and acquaintances whose lives he touched.

He is survived by a sister, Shirley Spangler of New York City; his daughter, Elizabeth S. McCabe and her husband Michael of Dedham, Massachusetts; his son, William D. Spangler and his wife Kathleen Kelly Cunningham Spangler of Westbrook; and seven loving grandchildren, Oliver M. and Benjamin H. McCabe, Jessica C. Spangler, William D. Spangler, Jr., Logan S. Spangler, Emma Q. Spangler, and Frances B. Spangler.

A memorial service will be held at the United Church of Rowayton, 210 Rowayton Ave., Rowayton, on Saturday, Oct. 27, at 11 a.m. The Robinson, Wright & Weymer Funeral Home, Centerbrook, is in charge of arrangements. To share a memory of Jack or send a condolence to his family please visit www.rwwfh.com.