Obituary of John J. Hagan

John J. “Jack” Hagan, a World War II veteran and international patent attorney, died on October 10, 2017 in Stamford, CT. He was 94 years old and resided in Vero Beach, FL.

He was born on October 14, 1922 in Stamford, CT, to the late Bernard F. and Anna Daly Hagan, and was married to Elizabeth Ann Perry Hagan, his wife of 56 years, who survives him.

He grew up in Stamford and was a graduate of St. Basil’s Preparatory School, Class of 1940. He attended Fordham University, where he enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve and was called to active duty in the Army shortly prior to his graduation in December 1943. During World War II, he served as a platoon leader and company commander in the 354th Infantry Regiment of the 89th Infantry Division, and saw combat in the Rhineland and Central Europe campaigns. He received the Combat Infantryman Badge, the American Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the Army of Occupation Medal, and the EAME Campaign Medal with two bronze stars. He completed active duty in 1946 and served in the U.S. Army Reserve for over 20 years, retiring as a lieutenant colonel.

Following the war, he received a bachelor of laws degree from Georgetown University, a master of laws degree from George Washington University and became a successful international patent attorney. He retired in 1990 after a nearly forty year career at Cities Service Company, American Home Products and American Cyanamid, where he was chief patent counsel.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his three children, Laura Hagan King and her husband Michael of Norwalk, CT, Reenie Hagan Benziger and her husband Richard of Beaverton, OR, and Mark Hagan and his wife Laurence of New York, NY. He also leaves behind three loving grandsons, Jack Benziger, Tyler Hagan and Dillon King.

A memorial Mass will be held on Saturday, October 28th at 3pm at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, 1200 Shippan Avenue, Stamford, CT. A military funeral will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 1824, Merrifield, VA, 22116-8024 or made directly at www.MOAA.org/donate. Arrangements are under the direction of Thomas M. Gallagher Funeral Home. To send a message of condolence to the family, please visit www.gallagherfuneralhome.com.