Jay Wayne Jackson

Jay Wayne Jackson, age 87, of Madison, Connecticut (formerly of West Hartford, CT) passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 30, 2017 at his residence. Born in Albany, N.Y., he was the son of the late J. Wayne Jackson and Catherine McDonald. He is survived by his beloved wife of 57 years Françoise de Chabert-Ostland, his cherished daughter, Françoise J. Williams and son-in-law John S. Williams III of Greenwich, CT and his two precious grandsons, J. Jackson Williams and Alexander G. de C. Williams. He was predeceased by his daughter, Stephanie C. Jackson who was always in his heart. He was the son-in-law of Dr. Jean G. de Chabert-Ostland and his wife, Camille. He also leaves his brothers-in-law, Philippe de Chabert-Ostland and his wife, Rachel, of Paris, France and Michel de Chabert-Ostland and his wife, Muriel, of Palm Beach, Florida. He leaves four nieces, Natalia, Amelia, Isabelle and Arielle de Chabert-Ostland and a nephew, Christopher de Chabert-Ostland and five great grand nephews and nieces, William, John, Jane, Oscar and Juliet de Chabert-Ostland. Jay also leaves his cousin, Nancy Jackson Clark and her husband John and their three daughters, Kathryn, Elizabeth and Margaret and their families. He attended Saint Thomas the Apostle School in West Hartford. He graduated from the Kingswood Oxford School Class of 1949 and Washington and Lee University Class of 1953 and Washington and Lee School of Law Class of 1955. While at Washington and Lee, he obtained a commission in the U.S. Army. After serving on active duty and the reserves, he retired as a Major. He was a former Senior Partner in the law firm of Jackson O’Keefe. While continuing to practice law, he became involved with politics and served as a West Hartford Town Councilman, CT State Senator, Commissioner of Insurance and Legal Counsel to Governors Ella Grasso and William O’Neill. A devout Catholic, he was a former Chairman of the Archdiocese of Hartford Boy Scout Committee. He was a Knight of St. Gregory the Great by Pope John Paul II and a member of the Knights of Malta. He was very active in historical groups including the CT Society of the Cincinnati where he served as President and President General of the National Society. He was a Chancellor of the Connecticut Society of the Colonial Wars and Connecticut Sons of the American Revolution and former Councilor of the Society of Descendants of Founders of Hartford. He was a former Trustee of the American School for the Deaf and the Wadsworth Atheneum. He received the Roosevelt Humanitarian Award from the Nation of Israel. He was honored by the Nation of France which made him a Chevalier of the Legion d’Honneur. He was a member of the Madison Beach Club of which he was a past President and Governor. He was a former member of the Hartford Golf Club as well as a member of the Madison Country Club and recent member of the Old Lyme Country Club. He had lived in West Hartford for his entire life and had recently retired to his summer residence in Madison. His devotion to his family was endless and incomparable as well as his friendship to his many American and French friends. Mass and burial were private with a Memorial service planned at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Vista Life Innovations, 107 Bradley Road, Madison, CT 06443, Saint Thomas the Apostle School, 25 Dover Road, West Hartford, CT or Washington and Lee University, 204 W. Washington Street, Lexington, VA 24450. Molloy Funeral Home, West Hartford had care of arrangements.