Dr. John "Jack" DeMartin

Dr. John “Jack” DeMartin, a devoted family man and longtime Fairfield dentist, passed away after a short illness on February 22 in Fort Myers, Florida, at the age of 93.

Born on March 28, 1932, in Fairfield, Jack and his identical twin brother Bob were the sons of Susie Lanzo DeMartin and Jack DeMartin. Inseparable from childhood, the brothers attended Sherman School and Fairfield Prep, graduating in 1950. They continued their education together at the University of Vermont while serving in the U.S. Air Force Reserves, and later attended the University of Maryland School of Dentistry, where each earned his DDS. Upon graduation, they returned to Fairfield and opened DeMartin Dental on Sherman Street. Jack practiced there for more than four decades, becoming a beloved figure in the community for his kindness, generosity, and personal touch. He often accommodated patients after hours or on weekends, waived fees for those in need, and seemed to know nearly everyone in town by name. He and his brother practiced side by side until Jack’s retirement in 2002.

While caring for patients at Carolton Convalescent Hospital, Jack met Joanne Weiss, the hospital’s Director of Nursing. They married on New Year’s Eve in 1968 and raised two daughters, Alicia and Joanna. An avid golfer and skier, Jack and Joanne were longtime members of Brooklawn Country Club, where they formed many enduring friendships. The family enjoyed skiing throughout the East and later out West with Jack and Bob’s childhood friend Rolf Sandberg and the legendary Norwegian Olympic skier Stein Eriksen, with whom the three men shared a lifelong bond. In time, the family followed them to Park City, Utah, where Jack and his brother owned homes for many years. In 1959 Jack met the American West painter Robert Lougheed, who became both friend and mentor and inspired Jack’s lifelong passion for plein air painting. His landscapes, filled with quiet appreciation for the natural world, remain treasured by his family.

Jack was a familiar and welcome presence throughout Fairfield. He was a devoted member of the town’s dog-walking group, a regular at lunchtime gatherings with fellow dentists on the town green, a loyal Yankees fan, and a lifelong animal lover who never met a creature he didn’t adore. He was predeceased by his wife, Joanne Weiss DeMartin, and his sister, Eleanor Ward. He is survived by his brother, Robert DeMartin, and sister-in-law, Robin DeMartin; his daughters, Alicia DeMartin of Deep River, Connecticut, and Joanna DeMartin and her partner, David Guglielmo, of Weston, Connecticut; his beloved grandchildren, Gillan and Eleanor; and his nephew, Robert DeMartin Jr., and his family. The family is deeply grateful to Meka Helga Komo for her loving care during Jack’s final days. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Animal Kind, the rescue organization where Jack’s beloved cat, Cherry, was adopted.