James Carnell

James Alan Carnell, 88, of Old Lyme, passed peacefully at Connecticut Hospice in Branford June 20, supported by his loving family. He was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin March 23, 1930, the son of George and E. Josephine Carnell. He was raised in Great Neck, NY where he met and married Irene Anne Hamilton. They were married for 60 years before her passing in 2013.

Jim is survived by his children, Susan Carnell (Larry), Diane Bates(Chip), Russell Carnell (Patricia), Nancy Tiffany (Dave), grandchildren, Tyler Bates, Lauren Bates Gerber (Tyler), Nicole Tiffany and Jake Tiffany. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Alexandra “Sandy” Tromba and nieces and nephew Barbara Haggerty, Barbara Tromba Murphy, Kathy Tromba Doran and Billy Tromba. He is predeceased by his sister, Joan Carnell Haggerty and his nephews David and Thomas Haggerty.

An Engineer and Inventor with a keen intellect and quick wit, Jim was a loving father and grandfather, “Poppy”, and had many good friends he enjoyed over his wonderful years.

Jim graduated from New York State Maritime Academy (formally Fort Schuyler) with a degree in Marine Engineering, a commission as an ensign in the US Naval Reserve and a Coast Guard License as a 3rd Engineering Officer in the US Merchant Marine. He was a Naval Engineer officer during the Korean War, stationed in Key West, Florida, Tacoma, Washington, and Stockton, California before settling in Connecticut to raise his family.

Jim worked at Electric Boat as an engineer. He invented and created a one-man submarine, BENTHOS III, “Benny”, which was purchased by Electric Boat and renamed STAR I and was displayed at The Independence Seaport Museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for many years.

Jim later worked at Lear Siegler, Inc and designed the two-man submarine BENTHOS IV, which was used for numerous Naval ocean explorations. While employed by VAST, Inc, Jim constructed a Sonar Buoy (listening devise) used by Naval Underwater Systems to acoustically characterize the ocean down to 20,000 feet.

In 1984 Jim founded C&M Technology, Inc., Old Saybrook, CT., which built Innovative Components for Oceanographic Data Collection Systems.

C&M (CMT) worked on numerous Naval contracts that had him design a Horizontal Telescopic Array with 12 telescopic arms used to record data on the ocean floor, the SLED, towed from shore in 20ft of water that rotated positions to record radio sounds from many distances, a Datalink Antenna Tracker, a Wideband Data Acquisition Unit and Transducer Positioning Systems (a computer and command-controlled unit.)

Jim was a Mason for 53 years, served as a Master of Pythagoras Lodge three times, as well as District Deputy of the 7th Masonic District. He was a member of the Regional District #18 Building Committees during the construction and renovations of the original High School, Middle School and Mile Creek Elementary School.

Jim was an avid golfer and enjoyed bowling, fishing, poker and travel. He was a member of Old Lyme Country Club for many years with his wife, Irene, and Black Hall Club for 39 years, where he served on the Black Hall Board of Governors during his membership.

Jim was a member of Saint Ann’s Episcopal Church in Old Lyme, CT.

His family is hosting a Celebration of Jim’s Life at The Old Lyme Inn, 85 Lyme Street on Thursday, June 28th between 4pm and 7pm. Remembrances will be shared at 6:00 pm.

The burial will be at the convenience of the family.

Donations in his name can be made to:

The Connecticut Hospice, 100 Double Beach Rd. Branford, CT 06407

American Kidney Fund, 11921 Rockville Pike, Suite 300, Rockville, MD 20852