John T. Pierce

Portsmouth, RI - John T. Pierce, Sr., 82, of 52 Cedar Avenue, Portsmouth, RI, died Sunday, November 9, 2008 at Newport Hospital, after a short illness. Born in Fall River, MA, on April 11, 1926, he was the son of the late Alfred H. Pierce, Sr. and Florence Vials Pierce.His family moved to Island Park when John was born and he lived there ever since. He attended the local schools and served in the U.S. Navy, in the Pacific theater during World War II. He is decorated as a member of Task Force Thirty One which participated in the initial landing and occupation of the Tokyo Bay area and the Capture of H.I.J.M.S. Nagato which act Symbolized the unconditional and complete surrender of the Japanese Navy. After the war he attended the Progressive School of Photography on Yale Campus and freelanced for a time before joining a prestigious studio in Newport. He joined the Portsmouth Police Department in 1958 where he initiated the bureau of Criminal identification setting up a laboratory for processing fingerprints and photographs in the morgue in the basement of the town hall. John rose thru the ranks and served as Police Chief from 1969 to 1981. John was highly regarded as the Portsmouth local Historian and dedicated his life to preserving the towns history. A portion of his work can be found in his book Historical Tracts of the Town of Portsmouth, which was published in 1991. His remaining collection resides in the Portsmouth Public Library for all to view. Johns greatest personal satisfaction was his discovery and preservation of Portsmouths Original copy of the Declaration of Independence, which might have been lost forever. He is survived by his son John Pierce and his wife Linda and Richard Pierce and his wife Ann, his grandchildren Daniel Pierce and Michael Pierce of Portsmouth, RI, Joanna Watts of Connecticut and Andrea Pierce of Portsmouth, RI, his Honorary granddaughter Stephanie St. Laurent, two great-grandchildren Madison and Kieran Watts and his sister Ruth Brockway of Portsmouth, RI. He was the brother of the late Alfred Pierce. His funeral will be held on Thursday, November 13, 2008, at 10:00am, in the Connors Funeral Home, 55 West Main Road, Portsmouth, RI. Burial will be in Trinity Cemetery in Portsmouth.Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, November 12, 2008, from 4-7, in the funeral home. Donations in his memory may be made to the Portsmouth Free Public Library, 2658 East Main Road, Portsmouth, RI 02871.