Obituary: John F. Mason, 84, of Branford

BRANFORD, CT — Talk about a life well-lived, a life of service to his community and his nation. John Mason was a husband, father, grandfather, Army veteran, helicopter crew chief in an Army medical detachment, a firefighter, fire-police member, lodge member, son of Guilford but decades-long Branford resident.

Mason served with the Short Beach Hook & Ladder Company 4 for 64 years.

Branford Professional Firefighters Local 2533 wrote, "John was a great man that served the Town of Branford and Short Beach for more than 64 years. You will be missed John."

The Branford Fire Department said on Facebook, in a tribute to their colleague, that Mason was active with Branford Fire Police up until juts a couple of weeks before he passed away on Oct. 11

Here is his obituary, courtesy of W. S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home:

John F. Mason passed away on October 11, 2019 in Branford. He was the beloved husband of Susan Blake Mason for 57 years. John was born in Guilford CT on January 3, 1937 and was the son of the late Louis Percy Mason and Nora Ross Mason. He leaves his daughters Karin Norris (David) and Sally Boemer (Eric) both of Reading MA. He was a devoted grandfather to Devin and Mackenzie Norris and William and Anna Boemer.

John served in the military as a helicopter crew chief in the Army Medical Detachment at Fort Sill and Landstul Germany. After the military he worked with his brothers at Arber Manufacturing. He was later employed at Echlin (Dana) until his retirement in 2000.

John served as President and a trustee during his 64-year membership in the Short Beach HH&L Company 4. In recent years he was a member and officer in the Branford Fire Police.

He was also a member of Widows Son Lodge #66 in Branford for over 50 years.

He leaves behind brothers Frederick and Ronald Mason of Branford and a sister-in-law Janice Psilopoulos of Merrimack NH. He was predeceased by his brother Charles Mason.

The Mason brothers worked together building their houses as well as helping family members with their projects.

Friends and relatives are invited to a funeral service Tuesday morning at 11 at the W. S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home, 244 North Main Street, Branford. Burial will follow in Branford Center Cemetery. Visiting hours are today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers donations in his memory may be made to Beat Parkinson Today, 102 Pitkin Street East Hartford, CT 06108.

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