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FAIRFIELD, Conn. James H. MacNaughton, 89, of Newtown, died April 3.
A former 40-year resident of Fairfield, MacNaughton was a retired vice president of Petrucci Construction in Westport.
Known as Mac, he was born in 1922 in Newton, Mass. He grew up in Newton and graduated from Williston Academy in Easthampton, Mass. MacNaughton met his wife at Syracuse University, where he majored in architecture.
During World War II, he served two years in the Pacific in the Navy as an aerographer. After the war, MacNaughton was employed by the Coolidge, Shepley, Bulfinch and Abbott architecture firm in Boston. In 1947, he and his wife moved to Fairfield, where he started work in the heavy construction industry. MacNaughton resigned from Petrucci Construction in 1987 ton return to residential architecture.
MacNaughton and his wife designed and built a new home in Newtown in 1987. As a member of the Westport Rotary Club, he received a Paul Harris Fellowship award in 1981. He was also a past president of the Newtown Rotary Club, where he received the Service Above Self award in 1995. He was also a member of the Fairfield County Hunt Club in Westport, where his family kept their own stable of horses.
He enjoyed nature, his farm in Vermont, the company of a loving dog, fishing, hunting and skiing. MacNaughton also enjoyed designing and building one-man cedar canoes and kayaks in his free time. He was a former member of the board of trustees of both the Greenfield Hill and Newtown Congregational churches. A former PTA president, he was also active in various fundraising events.
MacNaughton is survived by three daughters, Susan Canelli, of Southport, Wendy (Callen) McMurtry, of Colchester, Conn., and Jamie Schroder of Pittsburgh, and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife of 61 years, Ann Beisel MacNaughton.
A memorial service will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday at Newtown Congregational Church. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to the Williston Northampton School, Advancement Office, 19 Payson Ave., Easthampton, MA 01027. Honan Funeral Home in Newtown is assisting with arrangements.
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