John Willard DeMartin

John Willard DeMartin, of Pepperell, Mass, passed away peacefully with family by his side on Sunday, March 17^th, 2024. Born July 23^rd, 1938, in Barnstable, Mass.  John was the oldest of four children born to Willard Lane DeMartin and Edna (Hamblin) DeMartin.

John was raised in Watertown and Westford, MA.  He did not graduate high school, but instead took to the seas at age 16.  For 4 years, John was a Navy Nuclear Submarine sailor, on the USS Seawolf and USS Croaker. He met many lifelong friends during this time of traveling the world and enjoyed sharing stories of, “back when.”  One of his favorite stories to tell was when he met President Eisenhower on the Seawolf, and the president asked him, “Can I get another cup of milk?”  to which Dad excitedly, and nervously, obliged.  

John married Ann (Sullivan), in 1961 where they began life together first in Nabnasset, then moved onto Pepperell in 1965 where John custom built the home he remained in for almost 60 years.  They raised their three children, Laura (Thibaudeau), Michele (Costa) and John II, in that home.  

John’s tenacity and grit pushed his life constantly upward and forward - from being a welder and janitor to owning his own excavation business to owning two successful steel companies, until he retired in 2001.

To say John was passionate about restoring hot rods and muscle cars, would be an understatement.   John started this hobby of building and rebuilding when he designed and built a completely customized T-Bucket from ground up – building the frame himself, out of steel.  He went on to restore many cars. Among a few of his favorites were his, 1956 T-Bird, 1932 Roadster, 1964 Falcon, 1968 Convertible Camaro, 1955 Ford Convertible, and the multi-award winning 1955 Chevy Convertible. His latest and greatest work was a 1957 Chevy Convertible that kept his heart beating during these last few years, in the hope to finish it and drive it one day.   

John was THAT guy that people gravitated towards and just loved to be around.  His humor and his quick wit endured and made even the most serious doctors and nurses giggle in delight - right to the end.  He was also a hardnosed, stubborn, sensitive soul that would do ANYTHING for anyone.  John was an overly generous person that never expected anything in return, just hoped for kindness and respect.  

John enjoyed his trips to Florida with the car club gang, his time at Dot’s farm in Fremont, NH, with friends and family, and the many dogs that were lucky to sleep at his feet.

John left this world as he came into it, a stubborn fighter that never said, “I quit.” At any time if you asked John, “How are you doing?”, his response was always an unflappable, “I couldn’t be a bit better!”  

John was predeceased by his wife of 42 years, Ann (Sullivan), mother Edna May (Hamblin) DeMartin, and father Willard Lane DeMartin.

He is survived by his loving companion and partner for 19 years, Dorothy Weed, of Fremont NH, his three children, Laura Thibaudeau, (Mike) of Jaffrey, NH, Michele Costa, (Mike) of Charlton, MA, John DeMartin II, (Jill) of Norton, MA, as well as his grandchildren, Sarah, Julia, Rebecca, Maeve, Rhys, and Carter and his great grand-daughter, Hannah.  He also leaves many amazing friends and close family.  

As we say goodbye to John, also lovingly known as, Bumpy, please remember him as he was: full of fun, humor, integrity, true grit, and also for the remarkable impact he made on all he came across.  

A visiting hour will be held in the McGaffigan Family Funeral Home, 37 Main St., (Rte. 113) Pepperell, MA on Friday, March 22^nd from 10 – 11 am before processing to Association Cemetery, Park St., Pepperell, MA where John will be laid to rest. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a local animal shelter of one’s choosing.