Jacques Kressmann

January 26, 2022

Jacques Alexandre Kressmann, 87, died peacefully in his sleep after a long illness on January 26, 2022. In his final days, he was surrounded by wife, children and grandchildren and dedicated caregivers.

Jacques was born in Bordeaux, France in 1935 to a winemaking family (Chateau LaTour-Martillac). His father was killed in action in World War II on the day France fell to the Germans and his grandfather was killed in World War I. Jacques’ mother was American, and he was raised in Toledo, Ohio until he returned to France for high school and college. He returned to the United States and joined the U.S. Army, serving in Germany and Greece. After his service in the Army, he reacquired his U.S. Citizenship. Jacques was a civil engineer and worked in the private sector in New York City, until he joined the New Haven Department of Engineering as the Chief of Construction. There he met his wife Pamela, who was the Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation, when she was assigned as a liaison to the Engineering Department. He worked for the City of New Haven until he retired. More recently, Jacques and Pamela moved to Silver Spring, Maryland, to be close to their children and grandchildren.

Jacques lived a life of travel, including living on a beach in Crete where he also learned to fly a plane. He loved dogs, reading, skiing, biking, and walking and water aerobics at the community pool. He enjoyed a rare steak and good wine. He tinkered and took care of things. He did not like sports, but he was a fan of the UConn women’s basketball team. Above all, he loved his family.

Jacques is survived by his wife of 33 years, Pamela Russell Kressmann; stepchildren Anna Greenberg (Dana Milbank), Kathryn Greenberg (Ari Zentner) and Jonathan Greenberg (Justine Gardner) and grandchildren Paola, Rigby, Teo, Sadie, Jasper and Gus; and his sister Barbara Jane Helander. His sister Simone (Bobinette) Kressmann and brother Raymond Kressmann predeceased him.

There will be a memorial service in Connecticut in the spring.