Obituaries

In Remembrance: John P. Fajnor ’50E Died on July 19 2025

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John P. Fajnor passed away peacefully at his home in Silver Spring, Maryland, on July 19, 2025, at age 96. He was happily married to Carolyn N. Fajnor for 67 years, until Carolyn's passing in 2017, and is survived by his son Craig, daughter Lisa, and granddaughter Rebecca (Hugues).

John graduated from Yale in 1950 with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering and was commissioned as an ensign in the US Navy after completing Navy ROTC. He served aboard the USS Missouri for two years and had the great fortune of serving at the Fleet Post Office in Hawaii for two years. After leaving active duty, John continued serving in the Naval Reserve and pursued his passion for civil engineering, working in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Louisville, Kentucky, where he helped design many roads and bridges.

John later moved to Rockville, Maryland, to join IBM, where he was a longtime employee in the Federal Systems Division. His work included systems design, project management, client negotiations, and consulting. He retired at age 62 and embraced retirement to the fullest, playing golf, volunteering at church, and traveling extensively.

Yale always held a special place in John's heart. He thoroughly enjoyed his four years there, taking advantage of opportunities to learn, participating in sports, working around campus, and building lifelong friendships. Those friendships endured throughout his life, including with Walter (Rocky) Strohmeyer, Tom Rametta, Bob Hopkin, and Bruce Avedon.

—Submitted by the family. 

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