John Edward DeJong

JOHN (JACK) DEJONG

1930 – 2026

John (Jack) DeJong was born December 24, 1930, on Staten Island, NY, and passed away June 6 at home in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL.

Jack spent his younger years in an apartment above his parents’ Staten Island bakery. He often jokingly griped of his time filling countless eclairs and icing cupcakes. He attended New York City public schools and graduated from Pace University in 1952. He returned to New York after two years in the United States Air Force, and joined JC Penny’s Executive Training program. That convinced him retailing was not his professional calling, but it did not dampen his enthusiasm for shopping or dressing well.

After several years with RCA International and ITT Laboratories, Jack joined McGraw-Hill Publishing Company. Jack spent 27 years at McGraw-Hill where he traveled the world representing its 22 magazines as a Circulation Marketing Executive. For many years Jack managed circulation for Business Week magazine. He retired in 1992.

Jack and his first wife, Lois (Everts), married in 1955. They met in high school Latin class. Jack and Lois had two sons, Jeffrey and Craig. They raised their sons in Lawrenceville, N.J. After years of loving marriage, Lois succumbed to cancer in 1986. Jack was a devoted and tireless caretaker throughout Lois’s cancer battle.

Jack married Jay (Johnston) in 1989, and they moved from New Jersey to Ponte Vedra Beach. They enjoyed many grand adventures circumnavigating the globe and hosted elegant cocktail parties. Jay passed away in 2022.

Blessed with the love of three incredible women, Jack began dating Jane Sharpe in 2023. He and Jane enjoyed many cruises and summered together in Maine. Jack called Jane the “new love of his life.”

Jack had many passions in life, and, perhaps after family and friends, competitive Duplicate Bridge was tops. He was also an avid reader and fan of New York Times crossword puzzles, Wordle, and Spelling Bee. Jack could often be found with his Kindle in hand.

Almost equal to his passion for bridge, was his love of travel and haute cuisine (including a good cocktail). Jack visited more than fifty countries and six continents.

Jack was a true New Yorker, he frequently attended Broadway musicals, dined in the best restaurants, and regularly visited the city's many museums. After he moved to Florida he made a yearly pilgrimage to his favorite city.

Jack celebrated his 95th Birthday in December 2025 with Jane, his sons, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren.

Jack died of heart failure in the company of his grandson Andrew and his close companion, Jane.

Jack is survived by his sons Jeffrey (Ruth McBeth) of Oak Park, IL, and Craig (Kristine Byrnes) of South Glastonbury, CT and his grandchildren Andrew, Lena, and Echo.

A private celebration of Jack’s life is planned for family and friends. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Mayo Clinic or the Michael J. Fox Foundation.