Obituary of John Francis Welsh

John Francis Welsh, a retired advertising executive and long time Darien resident, died September 19, 2010. Born May 19, 1916 in New Haven, CT, he was the son of Pierce Jerome and Irene Kennedy Welsh. He graduated with honors from Yale College in the class of 1937. During World War II, as a member of New York’s Seventh Regiment, Mr. Welsh served with the U.S. Army from February, 1941 until December, 1945. As a combat officer he saw action in the European Theater of operations in North Africa, Corsica, Southern France and Germany. He was awarded the U.S. Bronze Star, the French Croix de Guerre and five Battle Stars. He left the service in 1945 with the rank of Captain. Mr. Welsh, known as Jack, enjoyed a long and successful advertising career with the New York advertising agency Warwick and Legler, Inc. During his 44 years with that company, he rose from the mail room to the Vice Chairman’s office. In 1973, the company was renamed Warwick, Welsh and Miller, Inc. Over the years, Mr. Welsh served as a company Director, Chairman of the Executive Committee and was involved with the agency’s European affiliates. He served for several years as a Governor of the New York Council of the American Association of Advertising Agencies. He retired from Warwick, Welsh and Miller in 1981. After retirement, Mr. Welsh began an association with the International Executive Service Corps (IESC). In 1982, he undertook an extensive IESC project in Indonesia, counseling the management of a Jakarta advertising agency. In 1984, the IESC asked him to join their organization as an executive recruiter in their Stamford, CT world headquarters, a position he filled until 1996 when he retired. An avid tennis player, Jack and his wife Margaret traveled around the world over a ten year period with the People-to-People Tennis programs in Asia, South America and Africa. Jack and Margaret Welsh moved from Darien to the Meadow Ridge retirement community in Redding, CT in 2004. He is survived by his wife, Margaret, son Peter and his wife Martha, of Sudbury, MA, daughter Diana Vietor of La Quinta, CA and six grandchildren. Funeral services were held on September 22, 2010 at St. John Roman Catholic Church in Darien, CT. Funeral Home: Edward Lawrence Funeral Home 2119 Post Road Darien, CT USA 06820