John Anthony Danaher

John Anthony Danaher passed peacefully on August 13, 2025, aged 103, after a life well lived. He was the eldest child of the late Hon. John Anthony Danaher and Dorothy King Danaher. John lived at The McAuley in West Hartford, CT the past 19 years, having moved there with his wife Grace Burkett Danaher, who passed at age 89. Aside from his time in Europe during World War II, John never left her side for 67 years until her last day on this earth. His deep devotion to Catholicism has now brought them together, again. Devotion to service for his country and his family was paramount to John. He fought in Europe during WWII, was awarded 2 Bronze Stars and several other honors. After going back to school for his final two years at Georgetown, John received his Bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University in Economics, School of Foreign Service. John was then a Special Agent in the FBI, retiring in 1975. While at The McAuley, John recognized there were many people in their final days at St. Mary’s Home with no visitors. He became a regular fixture, as he spent many hours sitting and talking with residents, providing company and comfort. The influence of John’s life has transcended the generations, as the majority of his children and grandchildren have gone on to be of service to others in the military, medical, police, and judicial fields. His devotion to family was exposed often, but in 1960, John’s daughter Kathleen suffered a medical event that left her intellectually disabled. John did everything he could to try to give her the best life possible, including registering for graduate classes in the field of Special Education. He decided that those classes would show him the best ways that he could help Kathy. So, after working all day, and doing his part as a father to five other children, he attended graduate school part-time for several years, until he was awarded his master’s degree in Special Education. That alone stands as an objective measurement of devotion. His profound love for Grace was put to the test about twenty-five years ago, when John started to see changes in Grace’s ability to recall events and to process information. Her dementia progressed to the point where she required full-time care. John was her caregiver. He single-handedly took care of her needs when they lived together in Groton, CT. In 2006, when they moved to an assisted living facility in West Hartford, he continued to give her the devoted care she needed. Even when she became non-verbal and needed attention every minute, and even though they were both well into their late 80’s, he attended to her every need up until, and including, her last day. Perseverance and hard work were not attributes John shrank from. As a young boy, John peddled a magazine from the Saturday Evening Post to his neighbors, shoveled snow and delivered newspapers on a route that included the Mark Twain and Harriet Beacher Stowe homes. Prior to WWII, when school was out, he worked at Colt Firearms and as an Order Picker for A & P Grocery Store. John was an outstanding athlete, garnering 13 Varsity “K” awards at Kingswood in Baseball, Soccer, Track, and Riflery, while attending Georgetown University, earned letters in Baseball, Indoor track, and Riflery ( Team Captain). Many times, he stated with a chuckle, the one area he didn’t focus on was his academics, until he came back from the war and was both a husband and a father. “The responsibility of a family overtakes all outside activities, as they must be your utmost concern.” John was the last surviving member of his high school class of 1940 at Kingswood, West Hartford, CT, the last survivor of the 82nd Ordnance Battalion, and the second oldest retired FBI Special Agent in the USA at the time of his passing. John was pre-deceased by his brother Robert Danaher and sister Jeanne Danaher Lenhoff, son Thomas Kevin Danaher and grand-daughter Christine Lambeth. John had a profound love for Grace, their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He is survived by his daughter’s Sharon Danaher Henry and husband Hon. Richard Cordell Henry of Portland, ME. Kathleen Elizabeth Danaher of East Windsor, CT, and Marianne Danaher Lambeth and husband Michael Lambeth, Matthews, NC. His son’s Hon. John Anthony Danaher, III and wife Anne Morrison Danaher, Cape Elizabeth, ME, and Philip King Danaher, Tatamy, PA. His grandchildren, Brian Gregory Henry and wife Christine Thornton, Los Angeles, CA, Ceara Danaher Yahn and husband Garett Yahn, Madison, WI, Brendan Ahearn Danaher, Simsbury, CT, Austin Spellman Danaher and wife Megan Burton Danaher, Hebron, CT, Mary Kate Shea Danaher and Robert Breed, Quincy, MA, Ryan Danaher, Tucson AZ, Gabrielle Danaher Williams and husband Taylor Williams, Salt Lake City, UT, Dawn Lambeth Johnson and husband Michael Johnson, Dublin, VA, Katherine Lambeth Spiker and husband Adam Spiker, Lancaster, SC, Pamela Lambeth Krasen and husband Casey Krasen, Matthews, NC, Shaun Patrick Danaher, Tatamy, PA, Erin Elizabeth Danaher, Woburn, MA, Carson Gary Danaher, Tatamy, PA. Great-grandchildren Fern Frances Yahn, Ramona Grace Yahn, Julius John Danaher, Jayce McCauley Danaher, Frankie Mae Danaher, Declan Johnson, Keller Johnson, Brynnley Johnson, McCrea Johnson, Kennedy Johnson, Renn Johnson, Jaxson Spiker, Sophia Spiker, Colton Krasen, Scarlett Krasen, and Harper Krasen. As a family, we would like to thank all the medical professionals and friends of John who continued to make each day special for him. The family would also like to thank John’s devoted caregiver, Mr. Leroy Samuels, a true friend and gentleman. John’s legacy is seen every day all around the country in the eyes and hearts of his family. He has touched so many lives in such a positive manner, these past 103 years. John A. Danaher, Jr, truly, a life well lived. The funeral will take place on August 23, 2025, 10am at the Church of St. Timothy, 1116 N. Main St. West Hartford, CT. There will be no calling hours and in lieu of flowers, John requested any donations be made in memory of John Danaher to either: Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Hartford, Administrative Office, 839-841 Asylum Ave, Hartford, CT 06105-2801 Designated to: Development Disabilities Program. Or, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Blvd, Staten Island, NY 10306 (T2T.org)