Bio of John Pfeiffer, Phd. John (also known by the name Ned) has

Bio of John Pfeiffer, Phd.
John (also known by the name Ned) has been a lifelong resident of Old Lyme having
graduated from Old Lyme High School and went on to UCONN for a BA degree, Wesleyan
University for a master's, and State University of New York at Albany for a doctorate. His
specialty, research and longtime focus have been Lower Connecticut Valley prehistory and
history. Over the years, John has excavated local archaeological sites including 5,000 to
6,000 year old burial grounds, early Native American encampments dating back 10,000
years, and studied more recent sites and villages that span from the Archaic period to
contact with European explorers and settlers. He has studied historic maritime sites
in Essex at the Connecticut River Museum and Falls River Cove, and conducted
Connecticut's first archaeological study of a shipwreck at Griswold Point. Currently, he is
the Old Lyme Town Historian and Chairman of the Old Lyme Historic District Commission.
He taught in various colleges and universities and finished up his teaching career - where it
all started - at Old Lyme High School.
John Pfeiffer has always given back to the community and will continue to do so. He has
served the town of Old Lyme as a member of the Board of Education and chaired it for
three years. He was on the Old Lyme Land Trust for many years and is still serving on the
McCurdy Salisbury Educational Foundation. He is a frequent guest speaker for many area
societies.
He is an avid outdoor enthusiast and birder. He makes frequent trips to
Newfoundland and can often be seen with his friend Hank Golet. They are usually off
somewhere half submerged in the muck helping to erect or repair an osprey platform, band
immature eagles, or release a juvenile bird from an entanglement of fishing line.
John has also coached many young athletes in soccer: girls’ basketball; and is a very
successful boys’ tennis coach at Lyme-Old Lyme. He has been married to Marga for 39
years. She has worked for Travelers Insurance Company for 40 years and still makes the
trek to Hartford every weekday morning. Her contribution to the family has, in many ways,
permitted John to accomplish what he has. They have a daughter, Aubris, who lives in Old
Lyme and works for a consulting firm in D.C. Their son, Dane, has just graduated with a
master's degree in teaching and is a professional tennis player and touring coach. Dane
lives in Old Lyme and Saratoga Springs and wishes to teach history.

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