John Farnum Putnam passed away on August 6, 2022, in Ocala, Florida after struggling with several long illnesses over the past few years. He was born on May 3rd, 1938, in Holyoke, Massachusetts to John Franklin and Eleanor H Putnam.
John is survived by his wife Carole Putnam, with whom he happily shared his life for 33 years. They spent their early years as a couple in Connecticut while enjoying winters in Florida as snowbirds. After retiring in 2012, they made Ocala, Florida their home.
John grew up in Westhampton, Massachusetts, graduated from Northampton High School, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Engineering from the United States Merchant Marine Academy of Kings Point, New York, Class of 1959. After graduating from Kings Point, John served onboard the USS Graham County LST 1176 as LTJG for the US Navy from August 20, 1957 to February 26, 1960 and then moved on to have an extensive engineering career working for the following companies: Hamilton Standard (Space & Life Division, environmental control systems for space exploration), Pratt & Whitney
Turbo Power and Marine (Gas Turbines), Brown and Root, Bird Johnson (KAMAWA Bow Thrusters and Controllable Pitch Propellers), and General Dynamics Electric Boat Division. He finished his career as a Senior Quality Assurance Manager working for Northeast Utilities at the Millstone Nuclear Power Plant. Keeping busy after retirement, he worked for his son as a part-time fence estimator and salesman for Eagle Fence & Guardrail in Connecticut.
John is survived by his sister, Joan Sarafin of Northampton, Massachusetts, his three children with former wife Edith Rider Putnam; John Scott Putnam of Farmington, Connecticut; Linda Gawronski of Taftville, Connecticut; and Steven Putnam of Seabrook, Texas; and his two stepchildren; Erin Sirpenski of Burbank, California; and Ryan Sirpenski of Montville, Connecticut. John was also blessed with four grandchildren, Kimberly Ann Cody, Jessica Lynn Putnam, Joseph Scott Putnam and Jared Michael Gawronski, as well as two step grandchildren, Raigan Sirpenski and Toby Sirpenski, and two great grandchildren, Adalyn Mae Lee and Levi Joseph Cody.
Motorcycles were a life passion of John’s and he and his wife traveled extensively across country with them, logging in over a million miles in his lifetime. A favorite motorcycle trip was from Germany to France through the Alps in 2000. Other favorite trips were visiting National Parks and presidential libraries. John was a member of the Florida Prowlers motorcycle group and life member of the New London Motorcycle Club in Connecticut, well known by his biker buddies as the “Rally Master”. This responsible, kind, loving, gregarious and popular man could always be counted on to tell an entertaining story. John will be sorely missed by those who knew him.
He will be interred at Bushnell National Cemetery.
A Celebration of John’s Life will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, August 29, 2022 at Baldwin Brothers Timber Ridge Chapel 11250 SW 93rd Ct. Rd., Ste 300, Ocala, Florida 34481.