John J. Boone, CPA
John ( Jack) Boone passed away on November 15th after a brief illness.
He will be dearly missed by all of those who knew and loved him.
Jack was born in Norwalk on July 8, 1936, to Joseph and Rose Boone. His family owned and operated Boone’s Grocery Store on Main Avenue until 1963.
He attended Winnipauk School and Center Junior High, graduating from Norwalk High School in 1954. Upon graduation from the University of Connecticut in 1958, Jack joined Skidd & Kolkmeyer, Certified Public Accountants. After the passing of both senior partners, the company operated under his name until he retired in 2018, a few months after the 60th anniversary of his first day of work.
In 1964, he married the love of his life, Esther Marie Kalabany, in Greenwich, CT. They shared an inseparable bond and had one son, whom they proudly raised in Norwalk.
As a youth, Jack was an eager and hard-working caddy at Shorehaven Golf Club, during which time he developed a love of the game. He could often be found chipping practice balls in his yard.
He had vivid memories of visiting the New York World’s Fair in 1940, and continued his enthusiasm for the fair with a collection of photographs, films, and books. He was also a fan of cartoon art and corresponded with many celebrated cartoonists from the golden through the modern ages. His favorite illustrators were Norman Rockwell and his late client Stevan Dohanos.
He had an interest in photography, often documenting his travels throughout New England by capturing artistic images of historic bridges, architecture, and landmarks.
Jack was a lifelong fan of Old Time Radio, particularly comedy greats Jack Benny, Bob Hope, and Edgar Bergen & Charlie McCarthy. He loved jokes and telling stories, and could remember punchlines and scenes from movies he’d seen only once as a young boy. He shared his passion for comedy and his work ethic with his son, Dave, who became a multiple Emmy-winning writer and producer.
In addition to watching the films of Abbott & Costello, Laurel & Hardy, Alfred Hitchcock, and the adventure serials of the 1940s, Jack also enjoyed attending live theatre performances at the Westport Country Playhouse and Broadway shows. For many years, he and Esther attended the dress rehearsal for the Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 59 years, Esther of Norwalk; son Dave of Norwalk and Toluca Lake, CA; brother James of Westport; brother Tom and his wife Kitty of Milford; brother Hugh and his husband David West of CA; niece Cheryl-Lynn Arnold and her husband Jerry of FL; nephew Stephen Kalabany, his wife Karen, and their daughter Kaela of CO; niece Rosemary Boone, her husband, Thomas Langdon, and their children MaryKate and Tommy of Milford. He was pre-deceased by grandnephew Kevin Langdon.
Private services were arranged by Magner Funeral Home and held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Norwalk with interment at St. John’s Cemetery.
Friends and loved ones are invited to make a gift in the name of John J. Boone to the Entertainment Community Fund (Formerly The Actors Fund), Broadway Cares, or the Westport Country Playhouse.