John D. O'Toole, 92, Naval Architect, Engineer

John Dudley O’Toole, of Barrington, died peacefully on November 16, 2013 at his home. He was 92.

Born September 16, 1921 in Brooklyn, New York, he was a son of Lawrence Patrick O’Toole and Mary Gertrude Casey O’Toole. He attended Brooklyn Technical High School, Stevens Institute of Technology and Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn.

He served in World War II in the Navy. O’Toole began his mechanical engineering career at Gibbs & Cox in New York City in 1949. While at Gibbs & Cox, John worked on the ocean liner USS United States and sailed on her maiden voyage in July 1952 during which she broke transatlantic speed records – an early highlight of his lifelong work in maritime projects and power generation.

His career included engineering management positions at Union Carbide, Combustion Engineering, Westinghouse, United Nuclear and Gulf United. He concluded his career as a Vice President of Consolidated Edison in New York City, retiring in 1986.

He served as Vice Chairman of the Nuclear Safety Commission and Vice Chairman of the Welding Research Council. He was a member of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers. Among other volunteer roles, he served as a curriculum advisor to Lehigh University and on the management committee of the Nature Conservancy in Katonah, New York.

He will be greatly missed by his wife of 61 years, Constance Telfair O’Toole and their children: John Dudley O’Toole, Jr. and his wife Christine O’Toole of Oregon, Mary Constance O’Toole and her husband Michael R. Bottiggi of Vermont, Michelle Elizabeth Hair of Washington, and Jane Claire Keating of Oregon. He was predeceased by his son, Paul Lawrence O’Toole of Vermont. He is also survived by his seven grandchildren: Thomas, Timothy, John, Carrie, Sam, Amelia and Will. John is the brother of Mary Gertrude Turko of Illinois, Margret Bowen of New Jersey and the late Lawrence G. Caldwell of Pennsylvania.

He was a communicant of St. Luke’s Church in Barrington. Relatives and friends are invited to attend his Mass of Christian Burial on Wednesday, November 20 at 10 am at St. Luke’s Church. Burial will be held at Forest Chapel Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Home and Hospice Care of Rhode Island, 1085 North Main Street, Providence, Rhode Island, 02904. His arrangements are being handled by W. Raymond Watson Funeral Home in Riverside.