Andre H.          Jaeger, Sr

Andre H. Jaeger, Sr, 86, of Westport, died March 11 at Norwalk Hospital of complications from pneumonia after a weeklong illness.

Born in New York City in 1917, he moved to Westport in 1929, graduating from Worcester Academy in Massachusetts in 1933, then from Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, N.J., as an engineer in 1937. He married Constance Linxweiler of Norwalk in 1938 and, over the first 20 years of their 64-year marriage, they had five sons and four daughters.

He is survived by his loving wife, Constance, of Westport; sons, Bruce of Newtown, Rene of Nevada City, Calif., Andre, Jr, of Ridgefield, Jonathan of Westport, and Kevin of Niantic; daughters, Mary Ann Batsell of Westport, Sara of Fairfield, and Jalna of Norwalk; nine grandchildren; and one great-grandchild; sister, Shirley Millwee of Westport; and one niece. His daughter Dr Constance Jaeger predeceased him.

A lifelong gardener and conservationist, Andre spent most of his working years as a wholesale florist and as a local rose grower. He generously distributed roses to both civic and charitable organizations and to friends and acquaintances. He retired in 1993. During his long and active business career, he was the president of the national rose growers’ association, Rose’s Inc, in the 1970s. During the 1950s he was active in the Boy Scouts as a scoutmaster as well as a member of the Westport RTM. Andre was an avid reader, fisherman, hunter, birder and bowler, serving as president of the Greater Bridgeport Bowling Association during the 1960s.

Friends may attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday, March 15, at 10 am in St Luke Church, 84 Long Lots Road, Westport. The family will receive friends in the Harding Funeral Home, 210 Post Road East, Westport, on Friday from 4 to 8 pm.

The family would appreciate it if you would send flowers anytime, anywhere, to anyone you love. Contributions could also be made to the Nature Conservancy and the National Audubon Society.

The Newtown Bee        March 14, 2003