John Kirk Westinghouse died peacefully at his home in East Charleston, Vt., on October 29, 2024. John was born in Buffalo, N.Y., to Dr. Walter David Westinghouse and Elizabeth Wende Westinghouse. At the age of 18 months, he traveled with his family to Sun Valley, Idaho, where his father was a U.S. Navy doctor during World War II. They returned to Williamsville, N.Y., at the end of the war. John graduated from Williamsville High School and Mitchell College in New London, Conn. He attended the University of Connecticut.
John was a Renaissance man, proficient in a wide range of fields. At various times in his life he taught sailing; rebuilt old barns in the Mount Snow area; played a guittaron (Mexican bass) in New York City music venues; and ran several businesses in Hartford, Conn., helping in a downtown revival. There he ran the Sandal Shop leather business -- retail and wholesale -- for seven years. He also traveled around the U.S. participating in the National Boutique Shows, showcasing the leather goods from the Sandal Shop.
In 1969, he and a group of friends bought land in East Charleston, Vt., and cofounded a community. He felt this was one of his greatest accomplishments.
John was a hard worker and an entrepreneur and enjoyed learning new skills and participating in a variety of adventures, including setting up the kitchen in Calico Pizza, the first pizza place in Jackson Hole, Wyo.; teaching sailing; marketing the Green Mountain Trading Post; and running a restaurant in the Osbourne Hotel (now the Essex House) in Island Pond, Vt. He was also a carpenter and ran a contracting company building homes in the area, including Timberpeg post-and-beam homes.
John finished his career working for the State of Vermont in its Property Valuation and Review (PVR) Division for 17 years. There he assisted up to 45 towns yearly with reporting requirements for the state. John was responsible for creating a grading-system matrix the state uses when valuing improvements. After his PVR retirement, John continued to serve both as lister for his town and, recently, as assessor for Groton.
For relaxation, John was an avid golfer and played in a league for many years. He inspired others with his crossword and bridge skills.
John met his wife, Carol O. Smith, in 1985, while building a Timberpeg studio for his sister in New York's Finger Lakes. Carol returned with him to the community in Vermont, and they started their family with the addition of their son, Walter David Westinghouse.
He was a devoted father who spent hours at sports practices and events, driving to and from Revolutionary War reenactments, and at band practices and performances. John was a loving husband who supported the right of women to choose their own paths through life.
After John retired at the age of 76, he and his son built a family-designed home in East Charleston. There he enjoyed the last years of his life on the land and with the family and friends he loved. He died surrounded by his beloved family: Carol, Walter and fiancée Dr. Camilla Jamieson, and Dr. Mary Ready.
John was one of 10 children and was inspired throughout his life by his mother. He is survived by his wife, Carol; son, Walter David Westinghouse (Dr. Camilla Jamieson); sisters and brothers Dr. Wende Young, Bessie Burton, Dr. Walter David (Min Tzu) Westinghouse, Marcia Hoffman, Mark (Dr. Darlene) Westinghouse, Ann (Dr. John) Norlund, Dr. Andrea Westinghouse (Kevin O'Shaughnessy) and Linda Westinghouse (Peter Taylor); and their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
John was predeceased by his parents and his sister Susan Kirk Mair Brown (Westinghouse).
A celebration of his life will be held in July. For more information on details, email [email protected]. Donations in John's memory may be made to Slamt1d, whose mission is to empower people of all ages affected by type 1 diabetes, or to an organization of your choice.