John S.J. Bamfield's Obituary
Mr. John Stuart James Bamfield, age 67, passed away in Muskegon at the Christian Care Nursing Center following a long illness. John was born in Donegal Ireland to Herbert and Catherine (Sweeney) Bamfield and grew up in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, UK. Told by his headmasters that he would never amount to anything, and spurned on by American movies, John left England at the age of 21 in search of the American Dream. He arrived in New York in 1965 and stayed firmly planted there for the next twenty years. John held a variety of jobs as interesting and diverse as he was as he worked his way through the prestigious, City College, NY. Among them, cab driver, street vendor, a salesman’ in an upscale men’s store, and was co-owner of an art gallery in Greenwich Village. After receiving his Bachelor of Science Degree in Education, he accepted a teaching position at P.S. 85 Elementary School. In 1972 he became an Admissions Officer at the Columbia University, School of Engineering. His association with Columbia lasted 10 years culminating with the position of Dean for Admissions of General Studies. John received his Master of Science in Education from Bank Street College in 1981 and soon after went to work for that college as Dean for Student Services. In 1985 he accepted the position of Director of Enrollment Management at Muskegon Community College. He went on to become the Associate Dean for Student Services and held that position for many years prior to retiring for health reasons in December 2005. John loved his job at MCC, particularly working with and helping the students. He loved Muskegon, its beauty, its lakes, its friendly bankers and the short ATM lines. His interest were many, he was an avid sailor and had taught sailing at Offshore Sailing School on Long Island, he was an artist, avid reader, enjoyed cooking, playing squash and auto racing. He had a passion for all cars European and loved driving his 1989 Porsche Carrera above the posted speed limits. He is survived by: his wife, Julie; four daughters, Katy and Devon both at Central Michigan University, Sara (Jon) Lewis and their children Sam and Abby of East Greenwich, RI and Alison (Brendan) English and their son Colin of Hull, MA; a brother, Paul Bamfield of Nelson, New Zealand; and his in-laws, Whitey and Evelyn Dahlstedt of Norton Shores.
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