Hamden Obituaries: John Amos Edmonds

John Amos Edmonds, a former Hamden educator, died July 22, 2013.

He was the son of John Wesley and Susie Isabel (Marrow) Edmonds, who resided in Baskerville, VA.

John received his early education in Suffield, CT's public school system and is a graduate of Suffield Academy. He earned a B.A. from Morgan State University, where he participated in the ROTC.

Upon his graduation, he was commissioned as Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Infantry Division. He served in the Korean War, during which he was promoted to First Lieutenant. In 1954, he received an Honorable Discharge.

He furthered his education and received a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Connecticut, as well as a Certification for Supervision and Administration from the University of Bridgeport.

He worked at the Veteran's Administration Hospital for 12 years, where he worked as a clinical social worker. He then became a school social worker for the Hamden Public School System.

After four years, he was appointed to the position of Assistant Principal at Michael J. Whalen Junior High School and was then transferred to Hamden High School, from which he retired in 1991. However, he came out of retirement briefly to serve as an Assistant Principal at Ridge Hill Elementary School.

He was affiliated with Yale University's Saybrook College, where he served as a Fellow, and was an instructor in Adolescent Psychology at Southern Connecticut State University.

John was the Director/Advisory Specialist for the Hamden Board of Education program to desegregate Newhall Street School. His true passion was working as a volunteer mentor at Hamden High School for underachieving students from a single-parent home. John served as a Board Member for the Coordinating Council for Children in Crisis and the Urban League of New Haven. He was a loyal member of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity & Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.

John was an avid golfer who devoted most of his time serving as a member of the United States Golf Association - Sectional Affairs Committee. He volunteered as a Rules Official for Yale University Men's and Women's Golf Team tournaments and served as Deputy Commissioner for Human Resources of golf for the 1995 Special Olympics World Summer Games. He was also a golf instructor for the New Haven Public Schools after-school golf program.

In 1996, he was a candidate for Town Clerk in the Town of Hamden and on Feb. 21, 2003 was recognized as a Town of Hamden Black Notable.

He leaves his wife of 52 years, Joan, son, Eric of Hamden, daughters, Carol Y. Edmonds of Clinton, MD and Nancy Hill (Howard) of Hamden, a sister, Sally E. Watson of Manchester and sister in law, Julia Edmonds of Enfield and several nieces and nephews. Also left to mourn are his two grandchildren, Matthew and Kendra who were the true love of his life. He is predeceased by five sisters and one brother.

In lieu of flowers, donations are being accepted at the Community Foundation of Greater New Haven to benefit the John A. Edmonds Scholarship Fund. Checks should be made payable to the John A. Edmonds Scholarship Fund and mailed to: 70 Audubon Street, New Haven, CT 06510.

To leave a message of comfort for the Edmonds family please visit: www.hkhfuneralservices.com