John “Jay” Bennett of East Hampton died September 25. He was 60.
Mr. Bennett was born December 8, 1955, to Karin and Melvin Bennett of Springs. He was a 1974 graduate of East Hampton High School, and then attended Concord College in Athens, West Virginia, earning a bachelor’s degree in vocal performance and music education. He later went on to receive a master’s degree from Dowling College in elementary education.
During his teaching career he taught at several local elementary and high schools. He was also the director of music at Most Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church in East Hampton for nearly 30 years.
He married Shelley Dawley on October 7, 1989; they met while singing with the Choral Society of the Hamptons. The couple loved to sing together and did so as Victorian carolers in Southampton Village during Christmas for many years. They have two grown children, Kristofer and Courtney. As a family they loved to travel and, in 2015, traveled to Norway, the place of his mother’s birth, staying with relatives there.
In addition to his wife and children, he is survived by cousins, in-laws, nieces and nephews, and great-niece and great-nephews.
Visitation will be at Yardley and Pino in East Hampton on Thursday, September 29, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. A funeral service will be held on Friday, September 30, at 11 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Southampton.
Memorial donations may be made to the Dominican Sisters Family Health Services, where he was employed for the past several years as a customer service representative, 103-6 West Montauk Highway, Hampton Bays, NY 11946.
on Sep 27, 2016