Obituary for John Leonard DeLayo
New Hartford - John Leonard DeLayo, 85, passed away peacefully at his home on March 25, 2022. John was born on September 29, 1936 in the Bronx, New York, the only son of the late Frances (Bang) and John DeLayo. He graduated from Mount St. Michael Academy in the Bronx. After graduation he enlisted in the United States Navy, where he served as a submariner until 1962.
As a civilian, John had a long career which spanned across a variety of fields. He was an automotive mechanic and auto body technician for many years. He then transitioned to All State Insurance, where he worked his way up to be a manager. He later began his own small engine repair business to support his family while he established his independent adjuster service, Colonial Adjustment Services. He earned his real estate license and brokerage license. John worked hard to support his family, farming his property and selling vegetables, raising veal calves and selling shoes part-time, in addition to working his full-time job. He later branched out into independent building contracting and trucking, T.R.L. Services, from which he eventually retired.
John loved to make people laugh and tell a good story. He would ask guests who came for dinner if they liked to eat stuffed lentils; when they looked at him quizzically and asked “how do you stuff a lentil?”, he would quip, “with a hypodermic needle, of course!”. He was known for his statements such as “between you, me and the lamp post” and giving nicknames to everyone he knew.
John lived a full and active life. He played football at the semi-pro level. He was a ski instructor and excelled at downhill racing. He was an avid fisher and hunter, earning accolades for his marksmanship in trap and skeet shooting. He enjoyed speed skating and racing anything from dirt bikes, to motorcycles and go-carts, and was widely known in the local stock car racing circles. John performed at rodeos with his self-trained trick horse, Peanuts. He also enjoyed horseback riding, snowmobiling and boating. On a dare, he even rode a bull!
Later in life, he became a hunter safety instructor and served on the Warren Volunteer Fire Company and the Town of Warren Zoning Board of Appeals for many years. John was also a member of the Knights of Columbus, 3rd degree.
John is survived by his daughter and two sons, Lisa Kalach and her husband Kevin of Torrington, Robert DeLayo and his wife Julia and son Michael of Warren, and Thomas DeLayo and his wife Michelle and children, Jordan, Ryan and Isabella of New Hartford. John loved his children and grandchildren and wanted nothing more than to see them happy.
The family is thankful for his caregiver, Marvet Miller. Marvet came into our life as a stranger and became family. John loved to sing, joke and share stories with her. We will be forever grateful for the grace, care and compassion she provided that sustained him in his final years.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in John’s name may be made to the New Hartford Volunteer Ambulance, P.O. Box 1, New Hartford, CT 06057 or the Warren Volunteer Fire Company, 11 Sackett Hill Road, Warren, CT 06754.
Calling hours will be held on Thursday, March 31, 2022 from 5:00-6:00pm at Thurston Rowe Funeral Home, 283 Torrington Road, Litchfield. A funeral service will follow at 6:00p.m.
Kindly visit www.thurstonrowefuneralhome.com to send the family an online condolence.
As a civilian, John had a long career which spanned across a variety of fields. He was an automotive mechanic and auto body technician for many years. He then transitioned to All State Insurance, where he worked his way up to be a manager. He later began his own small engine repair business to support his family while he established his independent adjuster service, Colonial Adjustment Services. He earned his real estate license and brokerage license. John worked hard to support his family, farming his property and selling vegetables, raising veal calves and selling shoes part-time, in addition to working his full-time job. He later branched out into independent building contracting and trucking, T.R.L. Services, from which he eventually retired.
John loved to make people laugh and tell a good story. He would ask guests who came for dinner if they liked to eat stuffed lentils; when they looked at him quizzically and asked “how do you stuff a lentil?”, he would quip, “with a hypodermic needle, of course!”. He was known for his statements such as “between you, me and the lamp post” and giving nicknames to everyone he knew.
John lived a full and active life. He played football at the semi-pro level. He was a ski instructor and excelled at downhill racing. He was an avid fisher and hunter, earning accolades for his marksmanship in trap and skeet shooting. He enjoyed speed skating and racing anything from dirt bikes, to motorcycles and go-carts, and was widely known in the local stock car racing circles. John performed at rodeos with his self-trained trick horse, Peanuts. He also enjoyed horseback riding, snowmobiling and boating. On a dare, he even rode a bull!
Later in life, he became a hunter safety instructor and served on the Warren Volunteer Fire Company and the Town of Warren Zoning Board of Appeals for many years. John was also a member of the Knights of Columbus, 3rd degree.
John is survived by his daughter and two sons, Lisa Kalach and her husband Kevin of Torrington, Robert DeLayo and his wife Julia and son Michael of Warren, and Thomas DeLayo and his wife Michelle and children, Jordan, Ryan and Isabella of New Hartford. John loved his children and grandchildren and wanted nothing more than to see them happy.
The family is thankful for his caregiver, Marvet Miller. Marvet came into our life as a stranger and became family. John loved to sing, joke and share stories with her. We will be forever grateful for the grace, care and compassion she provided that sustained him in his final years.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in John’s name may be made to the New Hartford Volunteer Ambulance, P.O. Box 1, New Hartford, CT 06057 or the Warren Volunteer Fire Company, 11 Sackett Hill Road, Warren, CT 06754.
Calling hours will be held on Thursday, March 31, 2022 from 5:00-6:00pm at Thurston Rowe Funeral Home, 283 Torrington Road, Litchfield. A funeral service will follow at 6:00p.m.
Kindly visit www.thurstonrowefuneralhome.com to send the family an online condolence.