John V. Leffingwell of 90 River Street, Guilford, passed away peacefully at his home on Oct. 4. He was the loving and loved husband of Elinor Carloni Leffingwell and the son of the late Vernon Levi Leffingwell and Margaret Robbins Leffingwell. John was born on Oct. 20, 1930, and raised on the family farm in Canaan.
John was a graduate of the University of Connecticut, where he later earned his juris doctorate after serving his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He was a partner at Clark, Hall, and Peck in New Haven and Guilford until he took over the Guilford office, which became John V. Leffingwell Attorney at Law. He retired in 2006.
He was a founding member of the Guilford Foundation and a member of the Madison Winter Club. As a longtime member of The Clinton Country Club, many of his happiest hours were spent on their links. He was an active member of the First Congregational Church on the Green and a mason for 50 years. John was a 44 year member of the Guilford Rotary Club. He was a past president, a Paul Harris Fellow, recipient of the prestigious Donald A. Adams Award, and a benefactor of The Rotary International Foundation.
John is survived by his sister Jean Mattick of Geneva, New York; five dearly loved nieces and nephews and their families; stepchildren Phil Carloni (Hope), Ken Carloni (Jenny), and Susan Brown (Peter); adoring grandchildren Charlotte, Hannah, and Jacob Carloni and Duncan (Marissa), Tristan (Kara), Cameron, and Lillian Brown; and great granddaughter Isabelle Brown. He was predeceased by his first wife Elizabeth Taylor, sister Claire Leffingwell, and brother-in-law Leonard Mattick.
For the past few years, John received loving care from Jayne Kubek, Michele D’Auria, and Mary Chacho. The family thanks the VNA Community Healthcare and Hospice for its care and support. The family would also like to thank the Rotarians who brought John to their weekly meetings. As one Rotarian wrote, everyone who met him agreed: John was one of the most gentle and compassionate people they had ever met.
Friends are invited to a memorial service on Saturday, Oct. 20, at 11 a.m., John’s birthday, at the First Congregational Church, 122 Broad Street, Guilford. Burial will be held privately. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First Congregational Church of Guilford or the VNA Community Healthcare and Hospice, 753 Boston Post Rd. Guilford. Arrangements are in the care of the Guilford Funeral Home. To share a memory or leave a message of condolence for the family, please visit www.GuilfordFuneralHome.com.
