Marriage of John Dillon

Rubber Factory - Naugatuck, CT

 

John Joseph Dillon 

 

                    Married - 28 Oct 1914

            Invitation

Alice Marie Hickey

 

Children

John Michael Dillon

BIRTH: 1 Aug 1915, Naugatuck, CT

BIOGRAPHY: 

        At the time of the 1920 Census, John Michael was 4 years and 4 months old, and living with his Father, John Joseph Dillon (29), his Mother, Alice Hickey Dillon (25), his sister, Eleanor, 2 years and 4 months old, and his sister, Julia, 3 months, at 98 Melbourne Court, Naugatuck, CT (1-WD - Series: T625; Roll: 190; Page: 147; District: 298). His Father, John, was a rubber cutter at the Rubber Factory.

        The family moved in with John's Grandparents, Michael and Ellen Hickey, at 421 North Spring Street, from 1922 to 1924. John remembered having gone with his grandfather to help build the house, which had started out as a "bungalow". After the Dillons moved in, Michael built two more rooms, one above the other, and turned a small bedroom into a bathroom.

        His Father, John, purchased a second farm in 1924, five acres slopping down (East) to Hop Brook, in the North Church Street area. At the time of the 1930 Census, John was 14, and living with his Father, John (40), Mother, Alice (35), brothers, William (8), and Edward (1 year and 9 months), and sisters, Eleanor (12), Julia (10), and Alcea (5), at 648 Church Street, Naugatuck, CT (3-WD - Series: T626; Roll: 274; Page: 106; District: 185). His Father, John, was a laborer at the Zinc Mill.

        After Grandma Hickey died, in 1934, the family moved back in with Grandpa Hickey at 421 North Spring Street, Naugatuck, CT. Shortly after that, Grandpa Hickey built a three room, brick bungalow (with fireplace), on his next door lot, and moved there.

        Before College and enlisting in the Army Air Corps, John was educated in Naugatuck Schools: Hop Brook and Naugatuck High School (Class of '33). He attended the University of Maine before enlisting as a Flying Cadet in the U. S. Army.

        After basic training, John was assigned to Turner Field, in Albany, Georgia, for his advanced, single engine, flight training.  There, he met Dorothea (Dot) Sorensen (b 26 Jan 1921, in Washingtonville NY), who was working on the base. After graduating, John was kept on as flight instructor, until the end of WWII.  John married Dot on 31 Dec 1941, at the Turner Field Chapel. They had two sons: Michael Jensen (b 1943) and David John (b 1944). 

        John was in the Air Force for more than thirty years of active military duty and numerous national and global assignments: WW2 Pilot Training, Berlin Airlift, European Army of Occupation, combat flying in Korea as a squadron commander, and tour duties at the Pentagon. Over the course of his career, the family lived in Georgia, Germany, Mississippi, Illinois, Texas, Hawaii, Virginia, and Florida.  

John Dillon - 1951

        Their son, Michael J. married Sandra Lynn Robb, on 18 Feb 1966, in the Chapel of McCoy Air Force Base, Orlando, FL. They had two children: John Michael Dillon II (b 1970), and Sherri Lynn Dillon (b 1972).

Dot and John Dillon - 1968

         John retired from the USAF in 1969 as a full Colonel.  After his retirement, they settled in the Clearwater area of Florida, where Dot died on 17 Nov 1978.

        Their son, David J., married Sandra Elizabeth Snyder, on 24 Nov 1979, in Florida. They had two children: Jensen Elizabeth (b 1980) and Jeffrey David (b 1982).       

 

John and Honey

        John met Lillian A. Walker (Honey) in 1979, and they got married on 12 Sept 1987, in the Congregational Church of Charlotte, Vermont. They lived in Clearwater, Florida, and built a summer home in Monkton, VT.

        John was a member of the Order of Daedalians, the Mid-Florida Gulf Coast Chapter Retired Officers Association, the National Air Force Association, The 13th Bomb Squadron Association (Korea), the National Association of Uniform Service, Sigma Chi Fraternity, and Senior Alumni of the University of Maine.

DEATH: John died on 2 Sep 1998, at Stratford Court, Palm Harbor, Florida. He was 83 years old.

BURIAL: Col. Dillon was buried on Friday, Sept. 4th, from the Moss-Feaster Funeral Home, Dunedin Chapel, with full military honors, and the Rev. Thomas Conmy, of Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Dunedin, officiating.

 

Eleanor Margaret Dillon

BIRTH: 13 Oct 1917, 172 Curtiss Street (home of maternal grandparents - Michael and Ellen Hickey), Naugatuck, CT

BIOGRAPHY: 

        At the time of the 1920 Census, Eleanor was 2 years and 4 months old and living with her Father, John Joseph Dillon (29), her Mother, Alice Hickey Dillon (25), her brother John Michael (4 years and 4 months), and her sister, Julia (3 months), at 98 Melbourne Court, Naugatuck, CT (1-WD - Series: T625; Roll: 190; Page: 147; District: 298). Her Father, John, was a rubber cutter at the Rubber Factory.

        According to her brother, John M. Dillon, in his autobiography, "Johnny (Bound and Determined)", the highlights of her life as a baby were, almost choking to death on a piece of ham fat she grabbed from her high chair; and the fact that she had never spoken a word by the time she reached the age of two and then suddenly began to talk in full sentences. Her first sentences, upon being asked, "Did you see Aunt Nell?" were, in answer, "No, Aunt Nell was not there. She had to go downtown to do some shopping." When her Mother would tell that story, she would add, "and, she's never shut up since."

        The family moved in with Eleanor's Grandparents, Michael and Ellen Hickey, at 421 North Spring Street, from 1922 to 1924. Her brother, John, remembered having gone with his grandfather to help build the house, which had started out as a "bungalow". After the Dillons moved in, Michael built two more rooms, one above the other, and turned a small bedroom into a bathroom.

        Eleanor's Father, John, purchased a second farm in 1924, five acres slopping down (East) to Hop Brook, in the North Church Street area.  At the time of the 1930 Census, Eleanor was 12 years old, and living with her Father, John (40), Mother, Alice (35), brothers, John (14), William (8), and Edward (1 year and 9 months), and sisters, Julia (10), and Alcea (5), at 648 Church Street, Naugatuck, CT (
3-WD - Series: T626; Roll: 274; Page: 106; District: 185). Her Father, John, was a laborer at the Zinc Mill.

        After Grandma Hickey died, in 1934, the family moved back in with Grandpa Hickey at 421 North Spring Street, Naugatuck, CT. Shortly after that, Grandpa Hickey built a three room, brick bungalow (with fireplace), on his next door lot, and moved there.

        Eleanor suffered from rheumatic fever during her senior year in high school and was bedridden until a visiting salesman recommended lots of lemon juice. The doctor had predicted that she would be incapacitated by the disease, but she recovered (because of a tip to her parents, from a door to door salesman, about drinking lots of lemonade -- vitamin C), graduated third in her class (1935) and got a scholarship to New Britain State Teacher's College.

Eleanor - 1935

        The doctor refused to allow her to go because he thought her heart was too weak. She was devastated, having already planned and corresponded with her assigned roommate.  Instead, she went to work as a secretary, in the Central Office of the Naugatuck Chemical Company, from 1935 to 1940.

Eleanor and Bill - 1940

        William Petitjean had been dating Eleanor's sister, Julie Dillon. On one of William's visits to the Dillon home, Eleanor yelled, "Julie, Weary's here!"  Bill shushed her, and said that he had actually come to see her. They began dating, and married 28 Nov 1940.  They moved to Waverly Street, in Jersey City, NJ, where daughter, Eleanor Gwen, was born in 1942.

Gwen - 1942

        In 1945, they moved to Spring Street, Naugatuck, CT, next door to Eleanor's parents, John and Alice Dillon (in the brick "bungalow" built by Grandpa Hickey). Eleanor needed her Mother's help, because her second pregnancy had affected her heart, and she was advised to stay in bed.  During this time, William lived at a YMCA in NYC on weekdays and came home on weekends. Second daughter, Linda Lee, was born that year.

Linda - 1945Gwen and Linda - 1946

        The family moved to 2423 Arthur Avenue, Bronx, NY, in 1946.  

Linda and Gwen

Christmas - Arthur Avenue

        They also purchased four acres of land on Woodland Road in Bethlehem, CT, which became the family's summer retreat - "The Woods".

Dillon Gathering - Bethlehem, 1947

 

Dillon Cousins - Brook - 1953

        They moved to 12-71 Orchard Street, Fair Lawn, New Jersey, in 1950, and their son, William George Jr. was born there, in 1953. 

Bill - 1953Bill, Linda and Gwen - Orchard Street - '54

         When William, was in high school, Eleanor began working as a librarian/music teacher at St. Anne School, Fair Lawn, NJ, and going to college (William Paterson University, Wayne, NJ), to get her teaching degree. In 1971, she graduated (same weekend as son graduated from high school) and subsequently got a teaching job in Ringwood, New Jersey.

Graduation Picture - 1971

        Eleanor and Bill did some traveling over the course of the late 60's to the early 70's.  They went to Florida, California, Cape Cod, and (their greatest adventure), went to Europe, on the Queen Elizabeth II.  They visited Bill's relatives in London England, and spent some time in Ireland and Italy.

On the QE II - 1973

        After a few years of teaching, Eleanor developed congestive heart failure. Not long after that, she developed giant cell arteritis and endured two years of  treatment with prednisone.  She tried to live long enough to see the big ships come into New York Harbor (Bicentennial Celebration - July 4, 1976), but died a few days before that.

        She had lived long enough to know her first grandchild, Matthew Thomas Grenfell (b 1971), son of daughter, Linda, and her husband (m 22 Jun 1968, in Woodbury, CT), Gary Grenfell (b 1945).  

        She met her second grandchild, Jessie Lee Grenfell (b 1976), once before she died.  

Jessie Lee Grenfell

Picture taken for Grandma,

by Grandpa Petitjean

 

Gary, Matt, Jessie and Linda Grenfell - 1976

        She also got to know Joseph Bartok (b 1939), the man that daughter, Gwen, would marry (15 Apr 1978, in Bethlehem, CT).  Gwen and Joe would have two children: Paul Thomas Bartok (b 1980), and Laura Ellen Bartok (b 1984), after her demise.

Gwen, Laura, Joe and Paul Bartok - 1984

        Eleanor was very artistic and creative.  She was good at crafts, a talented artist, and a gifted writer, known especially for her wonderful letters.  After her death, friends and relatives sent her family copies of letters she had written, that had been meaningful enough for them to save.

DEATH: 25 Jun 1976, Barnard's Hospital, Paterson, NJ

BURIAL: St. James Cemetery, in a family plot with Mother, Alice Hickey Dillon (d 14 Aug 1951), Father, John Joseph Dillon (d 28 Aug 1968), and sister, Julia Dillon Crighton (d 17 May 1964).  After her death, her husband, William G. Petitjean (d 25 Jul 2010); brother-in-law, David B. Crighton (d 21 Jun 1995); sister, Alice Dillon Fager (d 21 Jul 2011); brother-in-law, Harry E. Fager (d 2 Jun 2010); sister, Jeanne M. Furtado (d 15 Jan 1999); and brother-in-law, Edward Furtado (d 26 Apr 2003) were also buried there.  The grave stone also memorializes her brother, Edward Patrick Dillon, who disappeared when his jet plane crashed off of Cape Cod, MA in 1954.      

 

Julia Alice Dillon

BIRTH: 19 Oct 1919, in Naugatuck, CT.

BIOGRAPHY: 

        At the time of the 1920 Census, Julia was 3 months old and living with her Father, John Joseph Dillon (29), her Mother, Alice Hickey Dillon (25), her brother John Michael(4 years and 4 months), and her sister, Eleanor (2 years and 4 months old), at 98 Melbourne Court, Naugatuck, CT (1-WD - Series: T625; Roll: 190; Page: 147; District: 298). Her Father, John, was a rubber cutter at the Rubber Factory.

        The family moved in with Julie's Grandparents, Michael and Ellen Hickey, at 421 North Spring Street, from 1922 to 1924. Her brother, John, remembered having gone with his grandfather to help build the house, which had started out as a "bungalow". After the Dillons moved in, Michael built two more rooms, one above the other, and turned a small bedroom into a bathroom.

        Julie's Father, John, purchased a second farm in 1924, five acres slopping down (East) to Hop Brook, in the North Church Street area.  At the time of the 1930 Census, Julia was 10 years old, and living with her Father, John (40), Mother, Alice (35), brothers, John (14), William (8), and Edward (1 year and 9 months), and sisters, Eleanor (12), and Alcea (5), at 648 Church Street, Naugatuck, CT (
3-WD - Series: T626; Roll: 274; Page: 106; District: 185). Her Father, John, was a laborer at the Zinc Mill.

Julie Dillon - 1940

Maid of Honor at sister Eleanor's Wedding

        After Grandma Hickey died, in 1934, the family moved back in with Grandpa Hickey at 421 North Spring Street, Naugatuck, CT. Shortly after that, Grandpa Hickey built a three room, brick bungalow (with fireplace), on his next door lot, and moved there.

Julie and Dave Crighton

        Julie married David Crighton (b 6 Aug 1916, in CT) who received his flight training at Parks Air College, East Saint Louis, Illinois and served in WWII, flying combat missions in B29's over Japan.  He served in the 873rd Bombardment Squadron, Crew 231-14, as Airplane Commander. 

Alcea, Dave, and Julie - Wedding

        They had four children: Lawrence William and Cynthia Jean (twins - b 1944), Cheryl Ann (b 1947) and Robert Bruce (b 1954).  They lived in Cheshire, CT for most of their married life.

Cindy, Larry and Julie

 

Crighton and Petitjean Children - 1950

 

Cindy, Sherry, and Larry - Christmas 1953

        Their daughter, Cynthia Jean (Tin), married Douglas Mott (b 1945) on 02 Mar 1965, in Cheshire, CT, a marriage that ended in divorce.  She then married David Eckrote, in North Carolina, and had a son, David Eckrote Jr. (Scooter).

David and Cindy Eckrote

 

  

David Eckrote Jr.

        Their son, Lawrence, married Kathleen T. Gillette (b 1956) on 11 November, 1977, in Cheshire, CT, a marriage that ended in divorce.  

Larry Crighton

        Their daughter, Cheryl (Sherry), married Richard George Ewing (b 1951), on 13 Mar 1973, at the Church of the Epiphany, in Cheshire, CT.  They had two children, Richard Scott (b 1976), and Christopher (1980), before their divorce.  

Sherry Ewing

 

Richard EwingChristopher Ewing

        Their son, Robert, married Nancy E. Mahoney (b 1955) on 22 October, 1977, in Cheshire, CT.  They had three sons: Kevin, Bryan and Steven.

Robert and Nancy Crighton

        Cynthia Jean Eckrote, died of cancer on 23 Nov 1982, at the age of 38, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

DEATH: Julie died on 17 May 1964, in Cheshire, CT, after suffering for many years with Addison's disease and the side effects of cortisone therapy.

BURIAL: St. James Cemetery, in a family plot with Mother, Alice Hickey Dillon (d 14 Aug 1951), and Father, John Joseph Dillon (d 28 Aug 1968).  After her death, her husband, David B. Crighton (d 21 Jun 1995); her sister, Eleanor Dillon Petitjean (d 25 Jun 1976); brother-in-law, William G. Petitjean (d 25 Jul 2010); sister, Alice Dillon Fager (d 21 Jul 2011); brother-in-law, Harry E. Fager (d 2 Jun 2010); sister, Jeanne M. Furtado (d 15 Jan 1999); and brother-in-law, Edward Furtado (d 26 Apr 2003) were also buried there.  The grave stone also memorializes her brother, Edward Patrick Dillon, who disappeared when his jet plane crashed off of Cape Cod, MA in 1954.  

 

William Erskine Dillon

BIRTH: 5 Oct 1921, in Naugatuck, CT

NICKNAME: Bill (Bumper, to grandchildren)

BIOGRAPHY: 

        The family moved in with Bill's Grandparents, Michael and Ellen Hickey, at 421 North Spring Street, from 1922 to 1924. His brother, John, remembered having gone with his grandfather to help build the house, which had started out as a "bungalow". After the Dillons moved in, Michael built two more rooms, one above the other, and turned a small bedroom into a bathroom.

        Bill's Father, John, purchased a second farm in 1924, five acres slopping down (East) to Hop Brook, in the North Church Street area.  At the time of the 1930 Census, William was 8 years old, and living with his Father, John (40), Mother, Alice (35), brothers: John (14), and Edward (1 year and 9 months), and sisters, Eleanor (12), Julia (10), and Alcea (5), at 648 Church Street, Naugatuck, CT (
3-WD - Series: T626; Roll: 274; Page: 106; District: 185). His Father, John, was a laborer at the Zinc Mill.

        After Grandma Hickey died, in 1934, the family moved back in with Grandpa Hickey at 421 North Spring Street, Naugatuck, CT. Shortly after that, Grandpa Hickey built a three room, brick bungalow (with fireplace), on his next door lot, and moved there.

         Bill entered the Army Air Corps and served in combat over Europe, flying out of England, as a tail gunner, in a B24 heavy bomber, during WWII.  

        Bill married Isabel Florence Salisbury (b 3 May 1920, in Maine).

 

Isabel F. Salisbury

 

        They had a son William Erskine Jr. (b 1943) 

 

Billy Jr. - 1943

        After the war, Bill worked for the Bristol Company, in Platts Mills, CT.  He and his family moved to Beacon Falls, CT in 1946, and later to Field Street, in Naugatuck, CT.  

Bill and Isabel

        Their son, William, married Karen Kosko (b 1946) on 18 Apr 1964, in Naugatuck, CT.

Bill and Karen

        Bill and Karen had two children: Edward William Salisbury (b 1967) and Barbara Jean (b 1970). 

Edward and Barbara Jean

        Edward married Heather Marie Chute, on 14 Oct 1995.

Edward and Heather

They have a daughter, Flannery, born in 1996.  In 2004, Heather gave birth to identical twin daughters: Molly Salisbury, and Mary Isabel, who was stillborn.

Flannery and Molly

        In the 1960's, Bill and Isabelle moved to Woodbury, CT, eventually buying a home at 20 Ridgewood Road.

Bill and Isabel Dillon - 1968

        Isabel died on 10 Sep 1996, and Bill remained in Woodbury, CT, until his death, at the age of 75.

DEATH: 2 Mar 1997, in Woodbury, CT.

BURIAL: William is buried with his wife, Isabel, in Salisbury Cove, Maine, at the Leland Cemetery.

 

Alice Hickey Dillon

BIRTH: 1924, in Naugatuck, CT

NICKNAME: Alcea

BIOGRAPHY: 

        The family was living with her Mother's parents, Michael and Ellen Hickey, at 421 North Spring Street, when Alice was born in 1924. Her brother, John, remembered having gone with his grandfather to help build the house, which had started out as a "bungalow". After the Dillons moved in, Michael built two more rooms, one above the other, and turned a small bedroom into a bathroom.

        Her Father, John, purchased a second farm in 1924, five acres slopping down (East) to Hop Brook, in the North Church Street area.  At the time of the 1930 Census, Alcea was 5 years old, and living with her Father, John (40), Mother, Alice (35), brothers, John (14), William (8), and Edward (1 year and 9 months), and sisters, Eleanor (12), and Julia (10), at 648 Church Street, Naugatuck, CT (
3-WD - Series: T626; Roll: 274; Page: 106; District: 185). Her Father, John, was a laborer at the Zinc Mill.

Alcea, Beau and Bill Dillon

        After Grandma Hickey died, in 1934, the family moved back in with Grandpa Hickey at 421 North Spring Street, Naugatuck, CT. Shortly after that, Grandpa Hickey built a three room, brick bungalow (with fireplace), on his next door lot, and moved there.

Alcea - 1945

        Alcea graduated from Naugatuck High School and then studied to be a registered nurse, finishing her training at St. Mary's Hospital in Waterbury, CT.  In 1946, she was 22 years old, a nurse at St. Mary's Hospital, and living at 421 Spring Street, Union City, Naugatuck, CT (Waterbury, Naugatuck, and Watertown, Connecticut City Directory, 1946), with her Father, John J. (56), an inspector in Waterbury; her Mother, Alice M. (52); her brother, Edward (18); and her sister, Jeanne (14).  Following graduation from Saint Mary’s, she studied surgical nursing. She worked in the operating room at Flower-Fifth Avenue Hospital in NYC, was a charge nurse in the emergency room (nights) at Yale-New Haven Hospital.       

Nurse Alcea, St. Mary's Hospital,

with sister, Eleanor, and niece, Linda.

       

Alcea married Harry E. Fager (b 1922, in CT) and had three children: Harry E. Jr. (b 1953), Theresa A. (b 1954) and John A. (b 1957). Harry was a Marine, so they spent many years at various military bases, including Quantico and Camp Lejeune, in North Carolina.  While living in North Carolina, Alcea became head nurse and supervisor at Onslow Memorial Hospital in Jacksonville, N.C.

Harry and Alcea Fager - 1968

        When Harry retired from the Marines, they bought a home in the Plantsville section of Southington, CT. They continued to live there, after Harry retired from Pratt & Whitney Aircraft.  In Southington, Alcea worked as a substitute school nurse in the Southington school system and did private duty for Bradley Barnes.

        Their son Harry E. Jr. married Diane M. Simoneau (b 1957) on 13 May 1983, in Plainville, CT.  Their daughter, Theresa A., married Thomas R. Pigeon (b 1949) on 15 Oct 1983, in Southington, CT.  Son, John A., married Deborah A. Oshana (b 1961) on 12 Jun 1982, in New Britain, CT.

        Harry Jr. and Diane had two children: Abbey (b 1986) and Mitchell (b 1988).  Terry and Thomas had one daughter, Bethany (b 1987).  Jackie and Deborah had two children, before their divorce: Mallory (b 1985), and Michael (b 1989).

        After her husband Harry's death on 2 Jun 2010, Alcea moved to The Orchards at Southington, where she lived until her death at the age of 86.

DEATH: Alcea died on 21 July 2011, in Southington, CT

BURIAL: St. James Cemetery, on 26 Jul 2011, in a family plot with her husband, Harry E. Fager (d 2 Jun 2010); Mother, Alice Hickey Dillon; Father, John Joseph Dillon (d 28 Aug 1968); sister Eleanor Dillon Petitjean (d 25 Jun 1976); brother-in-law, William G. Petitjean (d 25 Jul 2010); sister, Julia Dillon Crighton (d 17 May 1964); brother-in-law, David B. Crighton (d 21 Jun 1995); sister, Jeanne Dillon Furtado; and brother-in-law, Edward J. Furtado (d 26 Apr 2003). The grave stone also memorializes her brother, Edward Patrick Dillon, who disappeared when his jet plane crashed off of Cape Cod, MA in 1954.

 

Edward Patrick Dillon

BIRTH: 18 Jun 1928, in Naugatuck, CT

NICKNAME: Beau

BIOGRAPHY: 

        The Family was living on their second farm, five acres sloping down (East) to Hop Brook, in the North Church Street area, when Edward was born in 1928.  At the time of the 1930 Census, Edward was 1 year and 9 months old, and living with his Father, John (40), Mother, Alice (35), brothers: John (14), and William (8), and sisters, Eleanor (12), Julia (10), and Alcea (5), at 648 Church Street, Naugatuck, CT (3-WD - Series: T626; Roll: 274; Page: 106; District: 185). His Father, John, was a laborer at the Zinc Mill.

        After Grandma Hickey died, in 1934, the family moved back in with Grandpa Hickey at 421 North Spring Street, Naugatuck, CT. Shortly after that, Grandpa Hickey built a three room, brick bungalow (with fireplace), on his next door lot, and moved there.

        At the age of four, Beau was the object of a massive, 8 hour search, when he wandered off during a family vacation at Milford Beach. He was found with another toddler, less than four blocks away.

        In 1946, Beau was 18 years old, and living at 421 Spring Street, Union City, Naugatuck, CT (Waterbury, Naugatuck, and Watertown, Connecticut City Directory, 1946), with his Father, John J. (56), an inspector in Waterbury; his Mother, Alice M. (52); his sister, Alice H. (22), a nurse in Waterbury; and his sister, Jeanne (14). 

        Beau joined the marines a few months after graduating from Naugatuck High School, and completed training, but was honorably discharged when WWII ended.  He began studying at New Britain State Teacher's College, using his GI benefits, and money from part time jobs, including singing with a band on Saturday nights, and stock car racing.

        When the Korean War started, he enlisted in the Air Force, but was drafted into the Army and had to go through basic training before he was transferred into the Air Force.  He flew in the 18th Tactical Fighter Group, out of the K-55 Airfield at Osan Ni, during the Korean War.  He was shot down  in his F86F Aircraft, on 15 June 1953, over Korea, and the family had no word of him until the POW's names were released at the end of the war.  He had been burned about the face and neck and had received some shrapnel wounds from the explosion of his plane.  He had ejected, and landed by parachute in the midst of the enemy.  Beau was a prisoner, mostly in solitary confinement, until the end of the war.  

        Beau was one of the last 100 POW's released.  His brother, John, was serving with the 5th Air Force, 13th Bomb Squadron, in Korea, and waited for Beau's name to appear on the list of released prisoners.  He finally located him at the Tokyo Army Hospital in Japan.

Beau and John Dillon, Tokyo, Japan - 1953

        When Beau returned home, the town of Naugatuck honored him and other veterans, with a parade and ceremonies called "Dillon Day", on October 24, 1953.  He later became engaged to Judy Kiernan (b 1933, CT), a resident of Naugatuck who had been a private first class of the WAF (Women in the Air Force).  Beau continued to serve in the Air Force.

Back Home, after Korean War

        On December 7, 1954, while stationed at Westover Air Force Base (Air Defense Command squadron of F86D interceptors), Beau was sent on a Strategic Air Command mission to identify an unknown aircraft.  Normally, these interceptor missions were done in pairs, but Westover was covering for Otis Air Force Base, which was snowed in.  Beau completed the interception and identified the aircraft as an airliner, of an American based airline.  He called it in to Otis and shortly after radioed that his engine had flamed out.  He could not get the ejection system to operate and was going to make a flame out approach and descent for a water landing in Long Island Sound, southward of Otis.  No trace of Beau or his aircraft were ever seen again. 

Beau Dillon

Painted by his brother - Col. John Dillon

DEATH: 7 Dec 1954, off Cape Cod, MA, at the age of 26. The grave stone at his family's burial plot, in St. James Cemetery, Naugatuck, CT, memorializes his death.

 

Jeanne Maureen Dillon

BIRTH: 3 May 1932 in Union City, CT.

BIOGRAPHY: 

        The family was living on their second farm, five acres sloping down (East) to Hop Brook, in the North Church Street area, when Jean was born in 1932. She was the seventh of seven children, and her name was chosen by her brothers and sisters, who held a meeting to decide.

        After Grandma Hickey died, in 1934, the family moved back in with Grandpa Hickey at 421 North Spring Street, Naugatuck, CT. Shortly after that, Grandpa Hickey built a three room, brick bungalow (with fireplace), on his next door lot, and moved there.

        In 1946, Jeanne was 14 years old, and living at 421 Spring Street, Union City, Naugatuck, CT (Waterbury, Naugatuck, and Watertown, Connecticut City Directory, 1946), with her Father, John J. (56), an inspector in Waterbury; her Mother, Alice M. (52); her sister, Alice H. (22), a nurse in Waterbury; and her brother, Beau (18). 

        Jeanne received training as an X-Ray Technician, after graduation from Naugatuck High School.  She also was chosen to be "Miss Union City", in a local beauty contest.

 Jeanne - 1951

        She married Edward J. Furtado (b 14 Apr 1929, in Bristol, RI) in 1951, and they spent most of their married life in Prospect, CT. While living there, Jeanne wrote columns for the Naugatuck Daily News, as the Prospect Correspondent (Article in Naugatuck News - 27 Nov 1974).  She also served as the Prospect Town Clerk, for many years.

        Jeanne and Ed had seven children: Debra Jeanne (b 1953), Edward Joseph Jr. (b 1955), Bruce John (b 1958), Ellen Marie (b 1960), Mark James (b 1964), Lisa A. (b 1967), and Thomas Dillon (b 1970).

Bruce, Eddie and Debra Furtado - 1959

        Their daughter, Debra, married Robert H. Knapp (b 1952) on 3 Dec 1977, in Prospect, CT, and had two children: Kimberly Jeanne and Robert Holland III (Beau). Their son, Edward, married Karen A. Mikletonas (b 1957) on 19 Jun 1982, in Wolcott, CT, and had two children: Gina, and John. Son, Bruce, married Christa Barbieri (b 1960) on 23 Aug 1986, in Waterbury, CT, and had two children: Michael and Justine. Daughter, Ellen, married Leslie R. Feero (b 1944) on 29 Feb 1980, in Cheshire, CT.  Daughter, Lisa, married Charles L. May (b 1957) on 10 Sep1988, in Middlebury, CT, and had two children, Charles and Christi, before their divorce.  

DEATH: Jeanne died as the result of cancer, at the age of 66, on 15 Jan 1999, in Prospect, CT.

BURIAL: St. James Cemetery, in a family plot with Mother, Alice Hickey Dillon, Father, John Joseph Dillon (d 28 Aug 1968), sister, Julia Dillon Crighton (d 17 May 1964), sister Eleanor Dillon Petitjean (d 25 Jun 1976) and brother-in-law, David B. Crighton (d 21 Jun 1995). After her death, her husband, Edward J. Furtado (d 26 Apr 2003); brother-in-law,William G. Petitjean (d 25 Jul 2010); brother-in-law, David Crighton (d 21 Jun 1995); sister, Alice Dillon Fager (d 21 Jul 2011); and brother-in-law, Harry E. Fager (d 2 Jun 2010) were also buried there.  The grave stone also memorializes her brother, Edward Patrick Dillon, who disappeared when his jet plane crashed off of Cape Cod, MA in 1954.   

 

Theresa Mary Dillon 

BIRTH: Born prematurely (6 months), on 11 Oct 1936, at St. Mary's Hospital, Waterbury, CT.  V. P. Duffy was the attending physician.

DEATH: She died the same day, 11 Oct 1936, at St. Mary's Hospital, Waterbury, CT.

BURIAL: St. James Cemetery, Naugatuck, CT, on top of Grandma Ellen Hickey's coffin.

 

Last picture of all seven Dillons - 1951

 

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Marriage of Edmund Dillon

Marriage of Michael Hickey

Other Links:

Dorothea Ellen Sorensen

William George Petitjean

Isabel F. Salisbury

Harry E. Fager

Edward J. Furtado

Dillon Family History

Bunce Family History

Hickey Family History

Marriage of John Erskine

Erskine Family History