John E. Field
SPRINGFIELD — Springfield philanthropist and community leader John E. Field, retired chairman of the board of Wallace and Turner Inc., died Tuesday morning after months of failing health. He was 77.
A testament to his community involvement, Field was presented in February with the 2011 Richard L. Kuss Lifetime Community Achievement Award during the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce’s annual meeting.
Prior to that, Junior Achievement Hall of Fame of the Mad River Region presented Field with the prestigious Founder’s Award in April 2006.
“He loved Springfield and loved the community,” said Jerry Simonton, president of Wallace & Turner Insurance Inc. “When he retired about eight years ago, he and his wife, Ann, had the wherewithal to live anywhere, but chose to stay in Springfield.”
Field’s son, Patrick Field, who is a current business partner and friend of Simonton, is carrying on his father’s philanthropic tradition, according to Simonton.
“It’s really a testament to John and Ann caring for the community,” he said.
Field, a U.S. Navy veteran, served on many boards, according to his obituary:
• Director of Cincinnati Financial Corp & Western Ohio Financial Corp.
• Finance chairman of St. Raphael Catholic Church.
• Past chairman of the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce.
• Past president of the United Way of Clark and Champaign counties.
• Past president of Catholic Social Services of Miami Valley Springfield branch.
• Past president of the Lagonda District, Boy Scouts of America.
• Past president of the Board of Trustees, Clark State Community College.
• Member of the Turner Foundation Advisory Board.
• Past president of the Independent Insurance Agents Association of Ohio.
• Past state director of the Independent Insurance Agents of America.
Also to note, said Simonton, Field, with Sara Landess, ran the capital campaign for the new Springfield Regional Cancer Center.
Field was a 1951 graduate of Catholic Central High School, where he was inducted into the Hall of Honor in September 2008. He graduated from Miami University in 1955.
He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Ann (Somers); son and daughter in law, Patrick and Kit Field; a sister, Jane Bennett, all of Springfield; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1 p.m. Friday in St. Raphael Church. A private burial will be in St. Bernard Cemetery. Memorial are being taken to the Catholic Central High School Foundation or the Springfield Foundation.
“To lose the likes of Dick Kuss and John Field in less than a year is a terrible blow to our community,” Simonton said. “He was a great friend. As much as I’m going to miss him, the community’s going to miss him more.”