Jonathan Donolson Horne of New London and Dover, Massachusetts, 78, was born on February 1, 1940 and died on Saturday, December 22, 2018. He attended New London schools and the University of Connecticut. He also graduated from the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University.
He served in the US Army, in southeast Asia, primarily in Korea from 1962-64. His professional career was with the Bank of Boston, now Bank of America, retiring in 1988 as a Senior Vice President, ultimately responsible for his lending divisions and staff with three billion of loans and commitments. Of high integrity he attempted to discourage the newly prevailing practice of other senior and executive officers awarding themselves with stock options, high salaries and bonuses rather than concentrating on customer service. He deplored the dishonesty and disingenuous behavior that the large corporate world engendered in senior personnel and always sought a means to eliminate it. He determined to never again work with those whose ambition exceeded their talent and integrity. His fervent beliefs also allowed that he refused to associate with politicos whose self interest overshadowed their dedication to the public. He embraced the tenet that in life you have only a few individuals whom you can call “friend”; for a true friend is loyal, defends your character and stands ready to support you in any personal crisis or situation. Those who knew him well and were the beneficiaries of his friendship have and will continue to attest to his mantra.
Jonathan enjoyed family gatherings, disliked large social events and preferred to engage in conversation that offered an opportunity to debate an issue. Those who knew him well would stand ready for a challenging, intellectual, yet gentile discussion of issues of the day. He was a true patriot with an enormous appreciation for those who served and are currently serving our country. Draft dodgers of the 1960s would soon learn to avoid contact. However, all others could represent their views and receive his appreciation for the openness and position.
When Jonathan left banking he was determined to never again work in a large corporate environment and started a number of successful ventures of which the last was the most rewarding and satisfying. Determined to never work at one location, day after day, he established a company, Nuisance Wildlife Evictions, LLC. This, his last endeavor, encompassed his beliefs and accommodated his great love of wild animals and the outdoors. He was licensed by the Connecticut DEEP (Wildlife Division), New York DEC, and Rhode Island DEM as a Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator. He became known locally as “Trapper Jon” and operated the company with the love of his life, Grace, his best friend and wife of 25 years who will continue his work.
Most recently, he served as President of the Connecticut Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators Association for three years. In the past he served on the Board of Finance in the Town of Needham, Mass., New London’s Police and Community Relations Board, the Board of the New London Historical Society, and numerous local associations, committees, and organizations in Massachusetts and Connecticut.
Besides his treasured wife he leaves a son, Christopher, of St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, and a sister, Diana Horne Edwards, of Prescott, Arizona. He was predeceased by his daughter, Whitney Horne of Marblehead, Ma. and by his parents, Donolson E. and Grace M. Horne.
In honor of his request and belief that “when you are gone, you are gone, and others should not be inconvenienced with one’s passing” there will be no formal service and his cremated remains will be spread at the places he so dearly loved.
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