John Everett Trousdale

TYNGSBOROUGH - John Everett Trousdale, age 92, passed away peacefully on Friday, Feb. 1, 2019 after a period of declining health. He was the beloved husband of Louise E. (Ripari) Trousdale, with whom he shared 66 years of marriage. John was a longtime resident of Westford and Weston.

Born in Littleton, NH on September 21, 1926 to the late Everett and Elizabeth "Jess" (Willard) Trousdale, John graduated from Trinity College in 1950 with a degree in Physics. He was a U.S. Navy Veteran and proudly served his country during WWII.

John was employed as an electrical engineer at Raytheon Company and Textron where he was recognized for his work on microwave technology and antennas for military applications. One of his proudest moments was being invited to NASA as a dignitary for his contributions to the space shuttle program.

John had a lifelong passion for teaching, learning and being physically active. He and Louise honeymooned climbing the Grand Tetons in Wyoming. John hiked most of the White Mountain range with his family and skied Tuckerman Ravine many times. He taught his children and grandchildren to play tennis and ski. He was an avid skier into his late 80s. John shared his love for skiing with hundreds of young children as an instructor at Nashoba Valley Ski Area in Westford. John also enjoyed biking and gardening and produced expansive gardens at his home and the home of his daughter.

John made strangers into friends easily by sharing stories about history, politics and science. He loved music and singing. He played the harmonica and was always humming a tune. John also enjoyed reading poetry to his children and grandchildren.

Besides his wife Louise, he is survived by his devoted children, Leslie Costigan and her husband, George, Curtis Trousdale and his wife, Barbara, John Trousdale, and Camala Trousdale; a brother William Trousdale and his wife Priscilla Meyer; his grandchildren, Erin Seamonds and her husband, David, Gregory Costigan and his fiancée Megan Denault, Danielle Costigan, Kylie Ruoff-Sheppard and her husband, Christopher Ruoff, Brittany Riley and her husband, Matt, and Ashley St. Gelais; great-grandchildren, Katelyn, Bennett and Reid Seamonds, and Root and Brigham Wishinski. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his twin sisters, Ilona Trousdale Stanwood and Helen Mahoney Champe.
John's family is very appreciative of the loving care he received from the staff at the Atrium in North Chelmsford.

Arrangements - Family and friends are invited to honor and remember John at the J. A. HEALY SONS FUNERAL HOME, 57 N. Main St., WESTFORD, on Saturday, Feb. 9 from 11 am to 12:30 pm. A celebration of John's life will take place at 12:30 pm followed by Military Honors. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Dementia Society of America by mail to P.O. Box 600, Doylestown, PA 18901 or online www.dementiasociety.org/donate or the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen Street, Framingham MA 01701 or online www.cancer.org