John Frederic Mangold II, 93, of Granby, passed away on April 3, 2020. He was born on January 24, 1927, in La Grange, Il. After graduating from Lyons Township High School, John attended the United States Naval Academy graduating with a B.S. in 1947.
John began his U.S. Navy career as commissioned ensign in 1947 and advanced through grades to commander in 1962. He was commanding officer of the nuclear submarine USS Halibut, 1962-1963 and commanding officer of a nuclear training unit, 1963-1967.
John was married to Margaret Gore Mangold for 72 years. During his time in the Navy, he and Meg raised their family across the U.S., and eventually settled in Granby, where they remained for 50 years.
John looked forward to the Memorial Day Parade and one year marched with his friends in the “Lawnmower Brigade”—a group of guys dressed in coats, ties and boater hats pushing their lawnmowers.
John served on the boards of the Granby Land Trust and the Granby Tennis Club. He took a stint running the Men’s Breakfast at the Senior Center and volunteered as a mile-marker timer for the Granby Road Race.
During his Navy years, he earned a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, Calif. He retired in 1967 having reached the rank of Commander. He joined Combustion Engineering and rose to Group President and managed the Power Systems, Loomis and Air Preheater divisions. John retired when ABB bought out Combustion Engineering but returned when ABB realized he was critical to their management. After his retirement from ABB he became CEO and Chairman of Vetco Corporation, which took the family to California. They returned to Granby four years later.
John leaves his beloved wife, Meg, his children John F. Mangold, III and family of Toronto, Canada, Andrew W. Mangold and family of San Antonio, Tx., and Jennifer L. Mangold and family of Granby, eight grandchildren, and his loyal four-legged friend Anderson. John will receive his Navy Honors when the COVID-19 pandemic is no longer a safety issue.