John W. Stimpson

The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution has received word of the death February 15, 2003, of retiree John W. Stimpson of Falmouth. He died at Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston at age 87.

John Stimpson was born October 12, 1915, in Brooklyn, New York. He attended Cooper Union Institute in New York, earning a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering in 1941. He served on active duty in the U.S. Navy from 1941 to 1946, later retiring as a Lt. Commander in the U.S. Naval Reserve.

In January 1946, shortly after the end of World War II, John Stimpson joined the WHOI staff as an engineering draftsman with T.S. Griffin and was promoted to drafting group head in 1954. In 1959 he was named head of the reproduction group, working with Charlie Innis, and was named Reproduction Supervisor in Graphic Services in 1966, later working with Don Souza. He retired in January 1982 after 36 years of service.

Many at WHOI will remember John working in Reproduction at Blake, where during breaks he worked on crossword puzzles and had an ever-present cigar in his mouth. As a long-time colleague noted, “John presented a very gruff, almost curmudgeonly face to the world, but he was a very sensitive and generous soul, which he would demonstrate at rare, unguarded moments. He was one of those unique people at WHOI.”

He is survived by his wife, Mary E. (Sloat) Stimpson of Falmouth; a sister, Muriel Mountford of West Babylon, NY; a son, Wesley Stimpson of Carlisle, MA; two daughters-in-law, Patricia Stimpson of Carlisle and Cynthia Stimpson of Falmouth; and grandchildren Mark and Gregory Stimpson of Carlisle and Sarah, Winslow and Alex Stimpson of Falmouth. He is also the father of the late John W. Stimpson, Jr.

Visiting hours will be held Wednesday, February 26, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, 475 Main St, Falmouth. Burial is private. In lieu of flowers, donations in John Stimpson’s name can be made to The Cooper Union Alumni Fund, 30 Cooper Square, 8th Floor, New York, NY, 10003-7120.