Obituary for John T. Larabee
John T. Larabee, 85, of Somers, widower of Jacqueline (Cormier) Larabee (2008) passed away unexpectedly Tuesday March 22, 2022 at Johnson Memorial Medical Center. Born in Springfield Massachusetts, he was the son of the late Homer and Vivian (Gowdy) Larabee. He was a graduate of Hebron Academy Class of 55'. He enjoyed his Maine roots, with his mother and family being from Thomaston and Rockland. John also made his second home, his “happy-place”, in Boothbay, Maine, where he enjoyed and shared many wonderful memories with family and friends.
Following high school, he served in the US Army Reserves for 10 years. In 1964 he turned his hobby and passion for motorcycles into a very successful business by starting a motorcycle dealership located on Center Street in Manchester, Connecticut. As the business grew, he built a larger facility in 1972 just down the road at 24 Adams Street. In 1974 he started selling Honda automobiles, and over 50 years, Manchester Honda has grown to become one of the largest Honda dealers in CT.
He met his 1st love Jaci Cormier at a party, and the two were married in 1962 and lived in Enfield, Connecticut for a few years before finally moving to Somers in 1965 and raising their family, which they called the "Five-J's" there.
He remained a lifelong motorcycle enthusiast, which led him to meet many wonderful people, and visit amazing places, throughout his life. One of his most memorable motorcycle trips was touring Baja Mexico. He was a longtime supporter of NETRA and was proud to carry his A-level card, as well as being a charter life member of AMA and a former member of the Ramblers and Rams motorcycle clubs.
In addition to his love of motorcycles, he devoted much of his time to the automotive industry including his 22 year membership to the NADA Honda 20 Group and was past chairman of the professional dealer group. He served as the board chair of the Southern New England Honda dealers advertising Association for 10 years.
He was a founding board member of the GHADA which ran the Hartford Auto Show and funded their charitable foundation. He was very proud and honored to meet the founding member of Honda Motor Company, Mr. Soichiro Honda, on one of several trips to Japan.
John was a true philanthropist at heart and served on The Advisory board for Johnson Memorial Hospital. He was modest and generous in all that he did. He was a longtime Rotarian for over 40 years and was past president of the Somers Rotary Club (1980). He was also a Paul Harris Fellow award recipient.
In John's free time, he was a very accomplished tennis player in singles and doubles and played in the men's league achieving A-level status. Although he took up golf later in life, he enjoyed it very much. He took great pleasure in cooking and entertaining, especially serving his famous chili and cooking roast turkey. John loved traveling with his wife Jaci and later with Carmela all over the country. Many good friends also joined them along the way. He also traveled extensively with Rotary.
In 2014, John bought his first boat (The Cod Father) which he kept at his house in Maine. Although he stopped operating it a few years ago, he cherished every minute on-board when friends or family would take him for a cruise down the Damariscotta or over to Boothbay Harbor.
He was a true animal lover and enjoyed feeding the birds, squirrels, and chipmunks, even though they wreaked havoc on his equipment. While others look upon shopping as a chore, John was delighted to go shopping, whether it was groceries, clothes, or shoes, he could shop with the best of them. But most important to him, was the time spent with his family, especially his grandchildren who lovingly called him "Pop Pop."
John is survived by the 2nd love of his life and fiancée, Carmela Brennan. Carm and John were long-time friends who found each other after their spouses passed and enjoyed life to its fullest for the last 13 years. John is also survived by his three children, James Larabee and his wife Joleen of Storrs, Jonathan Larabee and his wife Annette of Glastonbury, Jennifer Couture and her husband David of Broad Brook, Five grandchildren, Austin, Nathan, and Dylan Larabee, Timur and Diana Couture, Two brothers-in-law, Brian Cormier and Gary Cormier, and two sisters-in-law, Jeanette Byerly, and Marcia Cormier. He also leaves several nieces and nephews. Besides his wife of 45 years, he was predeceased by a brother-in-law, Bruce Cormier.
Visitation hours will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday April 1st at the Somers Funeral Home, 354 Main Street, Somers. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday April 2nd, at the Somers Congregational Church, 599 Main St., Somers (Please meet at Church). Committal will follow at Somers Center Cemetery. Donations in John's memory may be made to the Rotary Foundation, 14280 Collection Center Drive, Chicago, IL 60693, or to the Damariscotta River Association, 110 Belvedere Rd., Damariscotta, ME 04543.
To leave online condolences, please visit www.Somersfuneralhome.com
Following high school, he served in the US Army Reserves for 10 years. In 1964 he turned his hobby and passion for motorcycles into a very successful business by starting a motorcycle dealership located on Center Street in Manchester, Connecticut. As the business grew, he built a larger facility in 1972 just down the road at 24 Adams Street. In 1974 he started selling Honda automobiles, and over 50 years, Manchester Honda has grown to become one of the largest Honda dealers in CT.
He met his 1st love Jaci Cormier at a party, and the two were married in 1962 and lived in Enfield, Connecticut for a few years before finally moving to Somers in 1965 and raising their family, which they called the "Five-J's" there.
He remained a lifelong motorcycle enthusiast, which led him to meet many wonderful people, and visit amazing places, throughout his life. One of his most memorable motorcycle trips was touring Baja Mexico. He was a longtime supporter of NETRA and was proud to carry his A-level card, as well as being a charter life member of AMA and a former member of the Ramblers and Rams motorcycle clubs.
In addition to his love of motorcycles, he devoted much of his time to the automotive industry including his 22 year membership to the NADA Honda 20 Group and was past chairman of the professional dealer group. He served as the board chair of the Southern New England Honda dealers advertising Association for 10 years.
He was a founding board member of the GHADA which ran the Hartford Auto Show and funded their charitable foundation. He was very proud and honored to meet the founding member of Honda Motor Company, Mr. Soichiro Honda, on one of several trips to Japan.
John was a true philanthropist at heart and served on The Advisory board for Johnson Memorial Hospital. He was modest and generous in all that he did. He was a longtime Rotarian for over 40 years and was past president of the Somers Rotary Club (1980). He was also a Paul Harris Fellow award recipient.
In John's free time, he was a very accomplished tennis player in singles and doubles and played in the men's league achieving A-level status. Although he took up golf later in life, he enjoyed it very much. He took great pleasure in cooking and entertaining, especially serving his famous chili and cooking roast turkey. John loved traveling with his wife Jaci and later with Carmela all over the country. Many good friends also joined them along the way. He also traveled extensively with Rotary.
In 2014, John bought his first boat (The Cod Father) which he kept at his house in Maine. Although he stopped operating it a few years ago, he cherished every minute on-board when friends or family would take him for a cruise down the Damariscotta or over to Boothbay Harbor.
He was a true animal lover and enjoyed feeding the birds, squirrels, and chipmunks, even though they wreaked havoc on his equipment. While others look upon shopping as a chore, John was delighted to go shopping, whether it was groceries, clothes, or shoes, he could shop with the best of them. But most important to him, was the time spent with his family, especially his grandchildren who lovingly called him "Pop Pop."
John is survived by the 2nd love of his life and fiancée, Carmela Brennan. Carm and John were long-time friends who found each other after their spouses passed and enjoyed life to its fullest for the last 13 years. John is also survived by his three children, James Larabee and his wife Joleen of Storrs, Jonathan Larabee and his wife Annette of Glastonbury, Jennifer Couture and her husband David of Broad Brook, Five grandchildren, Austin, Nathan, and Dylan Larabee, Timur and Diana Couture, Two brothers-in-law, Brian Cormier and Gary Cormier, and two sisters-in-law, Jeanette Byerly, and Marcia Cormier. He also leaves several nieces and nephews. Besides his wife of 45 years, he was predeceased by a brother-in-law, Bruce Cormier.
Visitation hours will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday April 1st at the Somers Funeral Home, 354 Main Street, Somers. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday April 2nd, at the Somers Congregational Church, 599 Main St., Somers (Please meet at Church). Committal will follow at Somers Center Cemetery. Donations in John's memory may be made to the Rotary Foundation, 14280 Collection Center Drive, Chicago, IL 60693, or to the Damariscotta River Association, 110 Belvedere Rd., Damariscotta, ME 04543.
To leave online condolences, please visit www.Somersfuneralhome.com