John Dent Somers

John D. Somers, 88, of North Haven, passed away on Thursday, June 29, 2006. Born in New Haven, November 27, 1917, to the late George E. and Alice Barrett Somers. Besides his family, Mr. Somers love and interest in life was streetcars. Over the years, he became a historian on streetcars and an author creating the books, "Yale Bowl and the Open Trolleys" and "Trolleys to North Haven". He was the past Vice-President and Trustee of the Shoreline Trolley Museum, Motorman and Conductor at the Shoreline and CT Electric Railway Association museums, and a member of the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, ME. Also, Mr. Somers was a member of New Haven Society of Model and Engineers and the North Haven Historical Society. Along with being a Historian and author, he was an avid trolley modeler building many models of the trolleys that ran in New Haven and, with his brother, had produced Multi-unit motors used in model trolleys. His passion for streetcars has inspired his son to continue his craft. Professionally he was a Mechanical Engineer graduating from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY and worked for several firms in his career leading to being an entrepreneur who's latest venture was owning the Grand Laundromat in Fair Haven prior to retiring. Mr. Somers leaves his son and daughter-in-law Roger and Eileen Somers of Hudson, NH, two grandsons Matthew Somers and his wife Megan and Bretton Somers, and niece Jean Everson. He was pre-deceased by his brother Richard B. Somers. A Memorial Service will be held at BEECHER & BENNETT, 2300 WHITNEY AVE, HAMDEN on Saturday, July 8, 2006 at 12 PM. Friends may visit with the family on Sat. from 10 AM to 12 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Mr. Somers name may be made to The Shore Line Trolley Museum, 17 River Street, East Haven, CT 06512, OR Connecticut Trolley Museum, The Connecticut Electric Railway Assoc., Inc, 58 North Road, PO Box 360, East Windsor, CT 06088, OR Seashore Trolley Museum, PO Box A, 195 Log Cabin Rd, Kennebunkport, ME 04046.