John C. Delphia

ESSEX JCT – John C. “Jack” Delphia, 89, of Carmichael Street, passed away on November 4, 2021, at Mansfield Place with his family by his side.

Born October 26, 1932, in Middlebury he was the oldest son of Cushman and Pauline (Pickett) Delphia. He attended elementary school in Burlington and played football, baseball, and basketball at Burlington High School where he graduated in 1952.

Following graduation, he listed in the US Army and served his country during the Korean War. Upon completion of his military service, he attended Johnson State Teachers College where he met his soulmate and future wife Sally Anne Girard (Delphia). The two were married on September 7, 1957, in Montpelier and made their home in Boston, MA before returning to Vermont in 1959. They started their family in Barre in 1960 with the birth of their daughter Patti (Tyler) and son John in 1961.

Jack was a science teacher at Spaulding High School for 40 years where he also coached varsity baseball and won two State championships. He also helped with his son’s Little League and youth ice hockey teams, where he would volunteer to shovel snow off the old outdoor rink in the north end of Barre.

Jack and Sally’s love of traveling took them on three summer-long family trips to Arizona, Utah, and Washington state. These trips were both quality family time as well as educational. They also traveled to Cape Cod and after many years of visiting built a family vacation home in Eastham, MA, where their children and grandchildren loved to visit them.

Jack and Sally loved to play bridge and would host as well as attend countless games with many wonderful friends. This love of bridge continued after Jack moved into Mansfield Place in 2015.

Jack was deeply spiritual and was a member of Saint Monica Catholic Church in Barre where he was a regular attendee every Sunday.

In his spare time, he enjoyed watching, supporting, and cheering on both his children and grandchildren during sporting events. He loved to play golf and was a regular at Northfield Country Club. He also loved the water, be it the ocean, his swimming pool, a lake, or pond.

Jack was a sweet man with a kind and gentle heart. Former students and baseball players will remember one of his favorite expressions being “you are a gentleman, or lady, and a scholar.” Jack certainly embodied that sentiment.

Survivors include his children Patricia Delphia Tyler and John Girard Delphia (MaryBeth); five grandchildren Alex (Taylor), Michelle and Benjamin Delphia, Lindsey Tyler, Jillian Tyler (Bryan Deyette), and one great-grandchild Avery Robert Delphia whom he recently met and held.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his wife Sally Anne Delphia, his brother Edward Charles Delphia and his beloved dogs Sam and Prince.

Jack’s family would like to thank the ENTIRE STAFF of Mansfield Place for their friendship and support during the five years Jack resided there, and especially the last week of his life.

The service to honor and celebrate his life will be held on Friday, May 27, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. in the Hooker Whitcomb Funeral Home, 7 Academy Street, Barre.  Following the service, inurnment will take place in the Berlin Corner Cemetery, Berlin.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Jack’s name to Golden Huggs Rescue, Inc. at https://www.goldenhuggs.org/donate