John Bezanson1

M, #22445, b. circa January 1930, d. 15 December 2022
Father*Horace Bezanson1 b. 9 May 1903, d. 16 Nov 1973
Mother*Carolina Giovanella1 b. 20 Apr 1908, d. 19 Oct 1987

Family

Gilda Ruth Leavitt b. 14 Nov 1926, d. 8 Dec 1999
Relationship4th great-grandson of Jean George Bezanson
John E. Bezanson
     John Bezanson was born circa January 1930 at Massachusetts.2 He married Gilda Ruth Leavitt.1 John Bezanson was a Town Engineer at Wellesley, Massachusetts.1 A small pond in the center of Centennial Park in Wellesley is named for him. He died on 15 December 2022 at Wellesley, Massachusetts.3

     Obituary from The Boston Globe (Boston, Massachusetts), 30 December 2022:
BEZANSON, John E. Of Wellesley, passed away on December 15, 2022 at the age of 93. He succumbed to complications arising from a year-long battle with Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS). He was the beloved husband of the late Gilda Bezanson (nee Leavitt).

John was born in Wellesley to Horace and Caroline Bezanson. He lived in Wellesley for nearly his entire life and worked for the town of Wellesley for nearly all of his working career, which culminated as Town Engineer. His service to the town is commemorated by naming John Bezanson Pond in Wellesley's Centennial Reservation after him. He was an avid fisherman, clay target shooter and hunter, who frequented Cape Cod and southern Maine.

He is survived by brother-in-law Bradford Leavitt; nephew Mark Leavitt; and nieces, Kathleen Morris, Jane Bache, and Joan Leavitt. He is also survived by his sister, Virginia Katunas and his nephew, Gary Katunas. We will all miss his kind words and thoughtful manner.

Memorial Services will be private, open only to family members.3

Census Summary

1930
Birth
1930
Census
1930
1940
Census
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
2020
Death
2022

Census, Residence

Census1930John Bezanson appeared on the census of 1930 at 119 Washington Street, Wellesley, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, in the household of Horace Bezanson and Carolina Giovanella with Virginia Bezanson.2
Census1940John Bezanson appeared on the census of 1940 at 1 Stevens Street, Wellesley, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, in the household of Horace Bezanson and Carolina Giovanella with Virginia Bezanson.4
Last Edited1 Jan 2023

Citations

  1. [S1] Dorothy Evans, Bezansons from Nova Scotia, 167.
  2. [S4] 1930 U.S. Federal Census; Wellesley, Norfolk, Massachusetts; FHL Film: 2340672; Roll: 937; Image: 888.0; ED: 0130; Page: 5B; Lines: 66-69.
  3. [S2] John E. Bezanson Death Notice, The Boston Globe (Boston, Massachusetts), 30 December 2022.
  4. [S4] 1940 U.S. Federal Census; Wellesley, Norfolk, Massachusetts; Roll: T627_1633; ED: 11-278; Page: 8A; Lines: 30-33.

Gilda Ruth Leavitt1,2

F, #22446, b. 14 November 1926, d. 8 December 1999

Family

John Bezanson b. c Jan 1930, d. 15 Dec 2022
     Gilda Ruth Leavitt was born on 14 November 1926.3 She married John Bezanson.2 Gilda Ruth Leavitt died on 8 December 1999 at age 73.1,3

     Obituary from The Boston Globe (Boston, Massachusetts), 9 December 1999:
BEZANSON -- Of Wellesley on December 8, 1999 Gilda Ruth (Leavitt) Bezanson. Beloved wife of John E. Bezanson. Dear sister of John J. Leavitt, Mary R. Leavitt, Bradford C. Leavitt all of Natick and the late Howard F. Leavitt. Also survived by several nieces and nephews.

A Funeral Service will be held on Friday. December 10 at 11 A.M. at The J. S. Waterman and Sons-Waring Funeral Home. 592 Washington St. (Rt. 16 next to the Wellesley Inn) WELLESLEY. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery in Wellesley. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the Service from 10-11 A.M. Retired head of the Savings Department at Natick Trust Co.1
Last Edited27 Feb 2021

Citations

  1. [S2] Gilda Ruth Bezanson Death Notice, The Boston Globe (Boston, Massachusetts), 9 December 1999, p. 78.
  2. [S1] Dorothy Evans, Bezansons from Nova Scotia, 167.
  3. [S3] Social Security Administration, Social Security Death Index, GILDA BEZANSON, Born=14 Nov 1926, Died=15 Dec 1999, Residence=02481 Wellesley, Norfolk, MA, Issued=MA (Before 1951).

Viola Love Bezanson1

F, #22449, b. 18 July 1905, d. April 1979
Father*William John Bezanson1 b. 10 Oct 1881, d. 31 Dec 1950
Mother*Ethel Viola Rawding1 b. 1882, d. 1955

Family

Charles Bruce d. 8 Apr 1987
Relationship4th great-granddaughter of Jean George Bezanson
     Viola Love Bezanson was born on 18 July 1905.1 She married Charles Bruce on 31 July 1923. She was 18.1 Viola Love Bezanson and Charles Bruce had 2 children.1 Viola Love Bezanson died in April 1979 at age 73.2

Census, Residence

LivedViola Love Bezanson lived in Bradenton, Massachusetts.1
LivedShe lived in Whitman, Massachusetts.2
Last Edited10 Sep 2001

Citations

  1. [S1] Dorothy Evans, Bezansons from Nova Scotia, 167.
  2. [S3] Social Security Administration, Social Security Death Index, VIOLA BRUCE, Born=18 Jul 1905, Died=Apr 1979, Residence=02382 Whitman, Plymouth, MA, Last Benefit=33507, Issued=016 (Before 1951).

Benjamin Harold Bezanson1

M, #22451, b. 22 December 1907, d. November 1964
Reference: Bezansons from Nova Scotia ID # 447.2
Father*William John Bezanson1 b. 10 Oct 1881, d. 31 Dec 1950
Mother*Ethel Viola Rawding1 b. 1882, d. 1955

Family

Annie May Briggett b. c 1908, d. 25 Jul 1998
Relationship4th great-grandson of Jean George Bezanson
     Benjamin Harold Bezanson was born on 22 December 1907 at Boston, Massachusetts.3,4,5,1 He married Annie May Briggett on 1 May 1929. He was 21.1 According to Bezansons from Nova Scotia, Benjamin Harold Bezanson lived in California but his SSDI entry residence was Massachusetts.2,5 He died in November 1964 at Taunton, Massachusetts, at age 56.5,6,7
Last Edited10 Mar 2016

Citations

  1. [S1] Dorothy Evans, Bezansons from Nova Scotia, 167, 234.
  2. [S1] Dorothy Evans, Bezansons from Nova Scotia, 167.
  3. [S7] New England Historic Genealogical Society, "Massachusetts Vital Records, 1841-1910", Bejanson, Benjamin Harold; Boston Birth Register; Year: 1907; Volume: 569; Page: 257.
  4. [S517] Phil Vogler and John Parker, "Extracts from the Berwick Register", vitstats1908.htm, "Bezanson, Willis J., born to at Roxbury, Mass., 22 Dec 1907, a son. [2 Jan 1908]."
  5. [S3] Social Security Administration, Social Security Death Index, BENJAMIN BEZANSON, Born=22 Dec 1907, Died=Nov 1964, Residence=Massachusetts, Issued=MA (Before 1951).
  6. [S806] Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Public Health, "Massachusetts Death Index, 1901-1980", Bezanson, Benjamin H; Year: 1964.
  7. [S1] Dorothy Evans, Bezansons from Nova Scotia, 167, 234, where the death date is "1965, Nov. 18", a year later than the date of the SSDI entry.

Annie May Briggett1,2

F, #22452, b. circa 1908, d. 25 July 1998

Family 1

Benjamin Harold Bezanson b. 22 Dec 1907, d. Nov 1964

Family 2

Roderick MacDonald
     Annie May Briggett was born circa 1908 at St. Anns, Nova Scotia.1 She married Benjamin Harold Bezanson on 1 May 1929. He was 21.2 Annie May Briggett became a widow upon the death of her husband Benjamin Harold Bezanson in November 1964 at Taunton, Massachusetts.3,4,5 Annie May Briggett married Roderick MacDonald.1 Annie May Briggett died on 25 July 1998 at Alderwood Rest Home, Baddeck, Nova Scotia.1

     Obituary from The Chronicle-Herald (Halifax, Nova Scotia), 27 July 1998:
MacDONALD BEZANSON, Annie Mae - 89, Alderwood Rest Home, Baddeck, died July 25, 1998, in the home.

Born in St. Anns, she was a daughter of the late Joseph and Effie (MacLeod) Briggett. She was a member of First Congregational Church, Whitman, Mass. She owned and operated the Skye Heigh Antique Shop in North River for 25 years.

Surviving are daughters, Virginia (Mrs. Robert Douglas), Huntsville, Ala; Patricia (Mrs. James Tullock), Waipole, Mass; Ethel Wagner (Mrs. Antoine Souza), Little Compton, RI; Sarah (Mrs. Allan Crimmins), Kingston, N.B; sisters, Jeanette Mattucci, New Hampshire; Ann Rugg, California; 12 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren.

She was predeceased by her first husband, Benjamin Bezanson; second husband, Roderick MacDonald.

Cremation has taken place under the direction of MacAskill Funeral Home. Private family burial at a later date.1
Last Edited14 May 2015

Citations

  1. [S2] Annie Mae Bezanson MacDonald Death Notice, The Chronicle-Herald (Halifax, Nova Scotia), 27 July 1998.
  2. [S1] Dorothy Evans, Bezansons from Nova Scotia, 167, 234.
  3. [S3] Social Security Administration, Social Security Death Index, BENJAMIN BEZANSON, Born=22 Dec 1907, Died=Nov 1964, Residence=Massachusetts, Issued=MA (Before 1951).
  4. [S806] Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Public Health, "Massachusetts Death Index, 1901-1980", Bezanson, Benjamin H; Year: 1964.
  5. [S1] Dorothy Evans, Bezansons from Nova Scotia, 167, 234, where the death date is "1965, Nov. 18", a year later than the date of the SSDI entry.