Jon Ainsworth Obituary

Jon Patrick Ainsworth, 75, of Guilford, Connecticut, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on March 26, 2025. Born in Nyack, NY, on April 29, 1949, Jon was the second son of the late James Robley Ainsworth and Rita Julia Byrnes Ainsworth of Pearl River, NY. He is survived by his wife, Janet Kipphut Ainsworth and son, Colin Christopher Ainsworth, of Guilford, CT, and son Kyle James Ainsworth, daughter in-law Naomi Ibtihaj Ahsan, and granddaughter Serene Amira Ainsworth, all of New Haven, CT. He is also survived by his sister Sharon Ann Hill of Woodstock, IL, whom he affectionately called "Franny," and brother Edward Jeffry Ainsworth of Maple Shade, NJ. In addition to his parents, Jon was predeceased by his brothers James Edward and Joseph Kim Ainsworth.
Jon graduated with a degree in Journalism from Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA. A newspaper reporter and copy editor by trade, Jon began his career at The Journal-News (Nyack, NY), with stops at the Fort Lauderdale News and Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel (Ft. Lauderdale, FL), and the Arizona Daily Star (Tucson, AZ), before moving to New Haven, CT, for a job at the New Haven Register and Journal-Courier, where he met his wife of over 38 years. He concluded his career in journalism at the Connecticut Post newspaper in Bridgeport, CT, retiring in September 2015. During retirement, Jon continued many friendships from his time in Connecticut newspapers.
Jon spent much of his youth camping and exploring the outdoors, his favorite destinations including Yellowstone and Grand Tetons National Parks and the lakes of the Adirondack mountains, and snorkeling and scuba diving the reefs of John Pennekamp State Park off Key Largo. More recently, Jon could be found tending to his back porch garden where he grew flowers and vegetables, baking banana bread, enjoying a plate of fried clam strips on the water of the Connecticut shoreline, and being "Papa" to his beloved granddaughter, Serene, whom he saw frequently. Jon loved birds, installing many feeders in his backyard and fighting a constant (often losing) battle to keep them from serving the local squirrel population.
Jon was a loving father and adoring grandfather and he will be greatly missed by his friends and family.
A memorial service will be held on April 12, 2025, at Zion Episcopal Church, 326 Notch Hill Road, North Branford, CT, at 10 a.m., followed by a reception.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Connecticut Hospice or Zion Episcopal Church, North Branford.
Services
Memorial Service
Saturday
April 12, 2025
10:00 AM
Zion Episcopal Church
326 Notch Hill Road
North Branford, CT 06471 To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Jon, please visit our Tree Store.