John Joseph Durant

Obituary for John Joseph Durant

Colonel (Ret) John Joseph Durant (Age 85) died in his home in Annandale, Virginia, after having lived a full life of love and service.

John was born and raised in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Upon his graduation from New Bedford High School, he worked briefly for the FBI. At the advice and with the assistance of his brother, Bob, he attended Providence College under the ROTC program. He graduated from PC in 1955 and was sworn in as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army, where he reported for active duty at Ft. Eustis, Virginia.

In a chance meeting, he met his one and only love, Jean, and in September of 1958, they were married. Their marriage lasted for 59 years, until his passing. During his military service, John and Jean experienced many adventures together in their travels across the world, including Ft. Eustis, where his daughter, Ann, was born, and in Landstuhl, Germany, where his daughter, Theresa, was born.
He served honorably for 26 years in the US Army, including several tours in Vietnam, and service with the Military Traffic Management Command. He was the recipient of the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm, two Overseas Service Bars, and a Legion of Merit. He was honorably discharged, retiring as a Colonel in August of 1981.
After his military service, he served as a docent with the Smithsonian Institution, and worked in private industry.

His proudest moments, though, were those spent in devotion to his family. His love of family and friends was the true hallmark of his life. As the family’s Patriarch, he is survived by his loving wife, Jean Zwicker Durant, his sisters, Irene Beauregard and Mary Fish, his children, Ann Matino and Terri Hobson, her husband, Dan Hobson, his grandchildren, John, Kayla, Carly, and Jojo, and his great grandchild, Annabelle, as well as his many nephews and nieces.

A viewing will be held at from 2-4 PM and 6-8 PM on Friday, December 15, at the Everly-Wheatly Funeral Home at 1500 W. Braddock Road, Alexandria, and a funeral mass will be held on Saturday, December 16, at the Church of the Holy Spirit at 10:30 AM. A reception will follow at the Auld Shebeen in Fairfax, Virginia. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the scholarship fund that John created to allow prospective Providence College students in need to attend by visiting www.providence.edu , click on “give” and enter “The Colonel John J. Durant ’55 and Family Scholarship Fund” or send directly to Providence College, ATTN: Gift Processing, 1 Cunningham Square, Providence, RI 02918.

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