John Barrett Teets

John Barrett Teets, age 82, beloved husband, father and grandfather passed away peacefully on Monday, March 4, 2024, with his family by his side. It was his family and, most importantly, his 15 grandchildren that gave him the greatest joy.

Born on January 9, 1942, John was raised in Connecticut, one of the many places he called home, by his parents Elizabeth “Jane” (Deming) and William Isaac Teets. He was the oldest of their three sons.

John earned his Bachelor of Science degree in economics from Ohio Wesleyan University where he met the love of his life and wife of 41 years, Sherry Ann Elliott. In college, John played football, dabbled in lacrosse, and was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He went on to earn an MBA at the University of Michigan, where he became an avid fan and recruited others, largely from the ranks of his kids and grandchildren, to chant “Go Blue” every fall Saturday. His son, Brian, embraced this tradition wholeheartedly, ultimately becoming a fellow alum.

John and Sherry married in 1965. With his MBA in hand, John began his professional ventures at Pitney Bowes, and in due course successfully ran several manufacturing companies throughout his career. The family relocated from Connecticut, to Ohio, and eventually California, where they settled for 30 years.

John and Sherry raised their five children primarily in Arcadia, California. Through his children, John was able to pursue one of his greatest passions: coaching. From soccer, to softball, to football, John loved coaching youth sports. Later in life, he became an avid spectator of his grandchildren, encouraging and counseling them in all their athletic endeavors. John’s most famous pieces of coaching advice were to “pair off in threes” and “to play with reckless abandon.”

In retirement, John and Sherry moved back to the East Coast, building a home in Rockport, Maine, where John pursued his love of working outdoors. He enjoyed riding his John Deere tractor, often with a grandchild riding in the bucket, while he landscaped his property and built stone walls. Designing and building their dream home in Rockport was one of his proudest accomplishments. Other hobbies included golfing, playing cards, and driving up and down the eastern seaboard and across the country with his Australian Shepherds Annie, and later Ziggy, to visit family and friends.

John was most proud of the family he built with Sherry. Upon her passing in 2007, he pledged to keep the family strong and ensure the grandchildren were a priority - he tackled the task with relish. Known fondly as Papa, Pops, Gramps, and Grandpa; he was a mentor, father figure, counselor, coach, best friend, and so much more to his beloved grandchildren.

John’s physical presence will be so dearly missed. He is survived by his five children, Kelley Jane Yelle and her husband Daniel of Franklin, MA; Lori Ann Salley Ring and her husband Russell of Alexandria, VA; John Christopher Teets and his wife Leanne of Evergreen, CO; Curtis William Teets and his wife Linda of Naperville, IL; and Brian Barrett Teets and his wife Molly of Marblehead, MA; and his 15 grandchildren, Nicholas, Sara, Jeffrey and Kaitlyn Yelle; John “Jack” and Reid Salley; Colin and Andrew Ring; William and Charlotte Teets; Sam, Emily and Max Teets; and Ben and Andrew Teets.

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at 1 p.m. at The Episcopal Church of St. Mary the Virgin, 43 Foreside Rd., Falmouth, Maine. A private burial service will take place in the spring in St. Mary's Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in John's memory to:

Dana Farber Cancer Institute

Attn: Contribution Services for Sherry Teets

PO Box 849168

Boston, MA 02284-9168

Dana-farber.org/give