John Hunter Detmold

1918 - 2014

LEEDS - John Hunter Detmold, 95, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2014 in Leeds, not long after watching his beloved Giants win the World Series. He had been in declining health since a fall earlier this year.
John was born in New York City on Dec. 22, 1918, to George Justus and Mabel (Porter) Detmold, the second of their three sons. He was close to his late brothers, George Ernst Detmold and Peter Lee Detmold. After graduating from Newtown High School in Queens, John attended Cornell University, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1943 with a bachelor of arts degree in English. While at Cornell, he was the student president of the Book and Bowl Society, a faculty-student literary club.
John had a long career devoted to the advancement of higher education.
After graduating, he was an editor at the Cornell Alumni News before moving on to Wells College in nearby Aurora, New York. At Wells, he was public relations director, assistant to the president, and editor of college publications (1947- 1956). He served as director of development at Sweet Briar College in Virginia (1956-1960) and as vice president of development at Mills College in Oakland, California (1960-1964). In 1964, John returned East and became director of development at Connecticut College in New London. During his time at Connecticut, John oversaw the funding of several major projects, including the construction of the Cummings Art Center and the Charles Shain Library, two key elements of the college's growth and transformation into the modern, vibrant campus it is today.
After 13 years at Connecticut, John became director of development at Smith College. He served in that capacity for four years until his retirement with emeritus rank in 1981. In 1983, the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) presented John with its highest national honor, the Frank Ashmore Award, for his exceptional service to educational advancement.
John loved libraries, and he visited them wherever he went. In retirement, he served on the Board of Trustees of Forbes Library. In 1993, he received the Trustees' Award for his volunteer service to Forbes, and he was a member of the building committee for the library's extensive interior renovations, completed in 2001. John also served on the Board of Trustees of the Northampton Historical Society. Throughout his retirement, he enjoyed lending his fundraising expertise to local organizations.
John is survived by his wife, Bess (Walsh), and their children, Hilary of Boston and Todd of Chicago; his former wife, Jane Reynolds Fennelly and their sons, Michael and his partner Lisa Shabel of Columbus, Ohio, Peter and his wife Martha Conn of New London, Connecticut, and David of Turners Falls; two grandchildren, Robin and Rose Whitcomb-Detmold; and his daughter-in-law, Dianne Bryan Detmold of Marysville, California. John and Jane's son Stephen died in 1996.
Plans for a memorial service will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Forbes Library (20 West Street, Northampton) or to another library or charity of your choice.
The Ahearn Funeral Home in Northampton is in charge of arrangements.