On Monday, Greenwich lost one of its longest-serving and most dedicated public officials. Former First Selectman John B. Margenot Jr. died at the age of 98.
| He was an ardent guardian of the Town he loved who set a new standard for what a first selectman can be. |
Born in Greenwich in 1928, the son of Italian immigrants, John served his hometown for more than six decades. He was a member of the RTM, the BET, the Board of Ethics, a Selectman, and then First Selectman for a then-record five terms from 1985 to 1995. He was the first Italian-American First Selectman in town history.
First Selectman Fred Camillo called him “an ardent guardian of the Town he loved” who “set a new standard for what a first selectman can be.” Former First Selectman Peter Tesei remembered him as a mentor whose legacy lives on in the people he guided and the relationships he built. The atrium at the Public Safety Complex bears his name.
A Lifetime of Service
John was a calm, intelligent, compassionate man with a sharp wit and an unmistakable laugh. He believed in consensus and lasting solutions. As a boy during World War II he volunteered as an airplane spotter atop the old Town Hall. He served in the U.S. Army in Japan, studied civil engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on the GI Bill, and later joined the family real estate business.
He was a chronic volunteer — PTA, Boy Scouts, little league, sidewalks, and countless civic boards. Small in stature, he was a giant of a man.
Our condolences to his wife Dolly of 71 years, his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Rest in peace, John. Thank you for all you did for Greenwich.
Calling hours will be at Fred D. Knapp Funeral Home, 134 Hamilton Avenue, on Thursday, October 22, from 4:00–8:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, October 23, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s Church, 178 Greenwich Avenue, followed by burial at St. Mary’s Cemetery.
