John Leonard Weissinger

Portsmouth, - John L. Weissinger, 65, of 24 Dove Street Portsmouth, died unexpectedly Sunday, November 3, 2002 at Newport Hospital Newport, RI. He leaves his wife of 37 years Claudette ArsenaultWeissinger. Born in Glen Allen, Mississippi on December 13, 1936, he was the son of the late Harry and Ethel Powers Weissinger. Mr. Weissinger graduated Cary High School in Mississippi in 1955. He attended Millsap College in Jackson, Mississippi graduating in 1959 with a degree in geology. He was a graduate of The University of Mississippi and recieved a degree in oceanography and geology. He then joined the United States Navy for the following 5 years and then joined the Navy Reserves for 20 years. Mr. Weissinger was an Oceanographer for NUSC for 35 years retiring in 2000, while working at NUSC he traveled extensively to Artic Ice Cap. Mr. Weissinger taught oceanography in the evening at Brown University. Mr. Weissinger was a member of the Portsmouth Historical Society and Save the Bay. He was a member of the Portsmouth Economic Development Committee. He was a member of the Pheasant Hill Association for 30 years and served as it president, and was involved in organizing Pleasant Hill Day. He was a member and past president of the Newport Ski Club and a long time active volunteer at Saint Philomenas Fair. He was an avid gardener and bridge player and a nature lover. Besides his wife he leaves two sons Clark A. Weissinger of Trinidad - Tobago, and Cary H. Weissinger of Bristol, RI, and three brothers Charles H. Weissinger of Cary, Mississippi, Spencer Weissinger of Charlottesville, VA, and Thomas R. Weissinger of Annapolis, MD, and one sister Clare Hoover of Bethesda, MD.He was also the brother of the late Harry McElroy Weissinger. His funeral will be held Friday, November 8, 2002, at 9:00am from the Connor?s Funeral Home, 55 West Main Road, Portsmouth followed by a Mass of Christian burial at 10:00am in St. Barnabas Church 1697 East Main Road, Portsmouth.Burial will be in Portsmouth Cemetery in Portsmouth. Memorial Donations may be made to Save the Bay, 434 Smith Street, Providence, RI 02908 or to the Norman Bird Sanctuary, 583 Third Beach Road, Middletown, RI 02842