John Joseph Deane Jr.

John (Jack) Joseph Deane Jr., 84, a resident of Oxnard, California, passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, November 7, 2021 with his daughter by his side. Jack was born January 6, 1937 to John Joseph Deane and Dora Harris Deane in Honolulu, Hawaii. He had one older sister, Theresa. During his childhood, the family moved many times because of his father’s Army service. By the time he was 18 years old, Jack had lived in Hawaii, Texas, Georgia, Japan, and Florida. After graduating from high school, he went on to earn his B.S. degree from the University of Florida, where he double majored in Physics and Mathematics, graduating in 1959 with honors.

After finishing college, Jack moved across the country to California to work in the brand-new Missiles and Space Division of Douglas Aircraft Company in Santa Monica. Not long after starting work at Douglas, he met a bright and sensitive young woman engineer, Delight Koski, who worked at the desk next to him. By the next year, they were engaged. He and Delight married in 1962, and they welcomed their daughter, Kathryn, a few years later.

In 1969, Jack left Douglas for Hughes Aircraft, where he worked on various projects developing software for fighter planes and satellites. After 20 years at Hughes, he and Delight opened their own business tutoring high school and college mathematics, physics, and chemistry. They moved to Oxnard, California in 1992 and continued tutoring students in their home for many years.

Once Jack retired, he gladly found time for leisure: walking in the park, reading, and solving brain-teaser puzzles. He and Delight spent their many retirement years enjoying life at a relaxed pace. He often stopped to admire the flowers in his neighborhood, and he enjoyed watching the birds that frequented his backyard. He always had a gentle pat ready for any dog that happened to cross his path.

Jack was a gentle, respectful man who thought deeply about things. He loved music and often whistled happy tunes. Jack’s friendliness and sense of humor made people feel welcome and at ease. Even in his later years as his health concerns became more challenging, he never lost his quick wit or the twinkle in his eye, and he continued to make warm connections and new friends right up to the end of his life. Everyone who ever met him will remember him with a smile.

Jack is survived by his daughter Kathryn Veditz, her husband Daniel, and grandchildren Keith and Jamie Veditz of Ben Lomond, California, two brothers-in-law: Arthur Koski of Goleta, California and Lowell (Geraldine) Koski of Goleta, California, a sister-in-law, Faith Binns of Midland, Michigan, a cousin, Jack Watson of West Palm Beach, Florida, and many nieces and nephews. His wife of 59 years, Delight, passed away shortly before his death.

Donations can be made in Jack’s name to the California State Parks Foundation or your favorite charity.

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