John Arnet Obituary

John E. Arnet, native of Ypsilanti, Michigan passed away April 2, 2009 in Canaan, CT at the age of 78 from complications of Parkinson's disease. John is survived by Sherrill his wife of 54 years, sons Peter and Paul, daughter Julie Arnet Kelley and son-in-law Michael Kelley, and 8 grandchildren: Jason, Mark, Kelsey, Erin, Emma, Neil, Ryan, Alexandra. John graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1954. He received a Masters of Science degree in Chemistry from the University of Texas and a Masters of Business Administration degree from Adelphi University. He served in the United States Air Force for 20 years as a Command Pilot and an educator at the United States Air Force Academy. He flew with the Strategic Air Command and Military Airlift Command piloting B47's and C130's. He served in Vietnam as a Special Forces Liaison Advisor and Forward Air Controller. Following his retirement from the Air Force in 1974 he worked at the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York for 10 years as Associate Academic Dean and Athletic Director. In 1984 he accepted a position with the State of Connecticut technical college system and rose to the position of President of Hartford State Technical College before his retirement. John and Sherrill owned and operated Parish Hill Orchard in Chaplin, Connecticut from 1980 to 2003. A private service will be held at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, Church Street Station, P.O. Box 780, New York, NY 10008-0780 or online at www.michaeljfox.org. For online memorial guestbook, please visit www.potterfuneralhome.com.