Birth date: Aug 11, 1940 Death date: Mar 2, 2025
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of John Delafield Curtis, loving husband, to Anne Matthews Curtis for 52 years. John was born on August 11th, 1940, in a log cabin in Roque Bluffs Maine during the Perseid meteo Read Obituary
To Ann, Chris, Jay, Nick and all their families, please accept our deepest sympathy from Judy and I on the passing of John. Our 15 years together raising our families in Sweetwater Oaks brings back fond memories of our friendship there, and beyond. John and I spent many evenings jogging together and even participating in some sponsored Saturday runs. Confirming John's humility, no one would ever know that he often finished high in his age group! You get to know a man very well after running 5 miles with him and John was a good, good man. How he connected with this country farm boy from northern Minnesota I'll never know but I thank God for the time I had with him. His kind understanding, thoughtful and professional advice, and calm demeanor always meant the world to me and I'll never forget him for it. God bless John Curtis.
Sincerely, Dave Maki
MY LIFE WITH JOHN CURTIS
“Life ends. That’s all part of it. His ended long and full, so I refuse to be sad about that, and so should you.”
Those were the words that John Curtis gave to me many years ago now upon the passing of an iconic national figure. I think it spoke to his “pragmatic optimism” about all things life. And it reminds me of a quote, attributed by many to one of my favorite philosophers, Dr. Seuss, that says, “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.” Well, I’m going to do my best to smile today because…John Curtis happened.
When I moved to Orlando in 1986, I knew one person in the entire city, an old friend from high school. About a year or so later I met Anne through our mutual love of theatre, and soon thereafter met John and the boys and quickly discerned that theirs was the kind of family that I sort of wished that I had. I say “sort of“ because I love my family; my mother is my hero, raising three small children on her own after the untimely death of my father.
So I always looked to John as a father figure. And I know that he felt the same. In fact, he once said that I was just like a son to him: I never called, I never wrote, and I never sent money. :)
Blood makes us kin. Love and respect make us family. So in that regard I have felt like an extended member of the Curtis family for many years now.
And I got a lot of fatherly advice from John in those years. And like any father-son-type relationship, we didn’t always agree. But even when we disagreed, it was always with a mutual respect. And at the end of the day, we both always came to realize…that I was wrong.
One time in particular I have to mention was in the late 1990s (yes, kids last century) when I finally scratched up enough to discretionary income to invest. When I asked John what he thought I might do with it, he replied in typical fashion, “Hmmmmm. Hmmmmm. Hmmmm…I would think that gold would be a good investment for someone like you.“ And I thought. “Cool! I have a friend whose dad owns a coin shop. I’ll stop in and talk to Mr. Frank about buying some gold.”
So fast forward TWO YEARS later, because when you’re young you don’t have time for trivial adult pursuits like “financial security.” So two years later when I finally told Mr. Frank what John said, without a word, he started typing on his computer and after a few seconds he spun his flat-panel monitor around to face me (one of the first one of those I’d ever seen so that tells you how long ago this was), and on the screen was a graph with a green squiggly line on it. And the green squiggly line went like from along bottom of the chart then suddenly shot through top. And with his usual stone cold poker face Mr. Frank said, “Well, I can tell you that you’re two years too late. He was exactly right. Here was the price when he told you to buy, here is the price now. Second thing I can tell you is: the next time that gentleman gives you a tip, run don’t walk to the nearest phone and call me because I will be smart enough to listen!”
Well, I got smart enough to listen to John’s advice about a lot of things through the years. While I never did buy any gold, all the advice he ever gave me was GOLD-EN. And it was my privilege to share that advice over time with countless others who in turn, no doubt, shared it with countless others, who passed it on, and so on, and so on…
We never know how our actions benefit others, in ripple effects that span time and space. John’s generosity improved the lives of so many people he would never know: people across the country, people around the world, people in generations not yet born. To leave the world a better place because you were in it is the ultimate legacy. And that is the legacy of John Curtis.
So my wish in the days-weeks-months-years ahead is that we all might cry a little less because we miss him, and smile a little more because we knew him. I know for sure there are more smiles in heaven tonight, because the angelic hosts have added one more voice, and it is the voice of John Curtis.
ML,
#4
I feel so thankful to have met John and his lovely family in Naples. Avy knew what a troubling time our friend Brooklyn (sadly now departed) was having and immediately invited us over to join in the family fun. John couldn’t have been more welcoming. He gave up his seats and poured us wine as he listened to Brooklyn explain her troubles. He gave such valuable advice by saying we were lucky to have such a friend in Avy. He understood so much. I’m so sorry for your loss. Naples awaits.
