Obituary of John E. Backus, Sr.

WESTPORT, CONN John Edward Backus, a lifelong resident of Westport, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024, at Norwalk Hospital, surrounded by his two loving sons. He was 94. Born to John and Elizabeth Backus, Edward spent his entire life in Westport. He attended Staples High School, where he excelled as a multi-talented sports performer, was a two-time all-conference football student-athlete and in 2003 was inducted into the Football Wall of Fame. His athletic prowess continued at the University of Bridgeport, where he was a standout football player on the first-ever team formed in 1948. He also anchored the semi-pro Westport Advertisers’ offensive line from 1949 to 1951, serving as co-captain in 1951 before the team dissolved due to the Korean War. During this time, he also worked as a Compo Beach lifeguard from 1949-50. In 1952, Edward enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, serving with the Presidential Honor Guard for Presidents Truman and Eisenhower in Washington, D.C., for two years. His love for sports endured throughout his life, whether playing football, basketball, softball, squash, racquetball, lifting or skeet shooting, or cheering on his sons and grandchildren in various sports teams. He was an avid fan of the New York Yankees and Dallas Cowboys. Edward coached football teams in the Westport Police Athletic League for 10 years and received the 1989 Sportsmen of Westport Achievement Award. He also served as a board director and first vice president of the Westport YMCA and was on the building committee. Professionally, Edward worked for various news and fashion magazines, including Seventeen magazine, Popular Science, Field & Stream and Outdoor Life magazine, where he retired as advertising director in 1995. He later served as a consultant for many years. In his retirement years, Edward cherished his weekly breakfast gatherings at Jr’s Deli and Grille in Westport, with friends (known as “The Crew”) Charlie Duffy, Mike Zeoli, Joe Saponare, Jerry Waldron, Pete Johnson and others, and shared quality time at the barbershop with his longtime friend Bill Gault. He was married to Carole Mailand, who passed away in 1992 and with whom he lovingly raised two sons: John Edward Backus, Jr. (JEB) of Westport and Jared Backus of Ithaca, N.Y. He is survived by his five grandchildren, John Edward Backus III (Tripp), Jillian Elizabeth-Anne, Garrett Edward, Grace Carole and Gavin; his daughter-in-law, Amanda Backus, and longtime sweetheart, Mary Snyder. Family and friends are invited to attend a funeral on Tuesday, Nov. 26, at 10:30 a.m. meeting directly at Assumption Church, 98 Riverside Ave. Interment will be held privately at Willowbrook Cemetery, 395 Main Street, Westport. In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift in Edward’s memory to either the Westport Police Athletic League online or by check mailed to Westport PAL, Attn.: Cpl. Craig Bergamo, 50 Jesup Road, Westport, CT 06880, or to the Lupus Foundation.