John Dernier LaBelle Jr.

John Dernier (JD) LaBelle Jr. transitioned to spirit on August 15, 2025. He was born in Hartford, CT on March 4, 1949 to Claire (Stephens) and John Dernier LaBelle. He was their first-born child and the apple of their eyes and, though they tried four more times to replicate him, they never succeeded. He was truly one of a kind. Growing up in Manchester, JD was a local boy through and through. He went to St. James Elementary School and East Catholic High School, where he was a standout in Track, a distinction that continued during his college years. Following in his father's footsteps, JD attended Colgate University and graduated in 1971, becoming an enthusiastic and life-long supporter of the school. He went on to earn his Juris Doctorate from Boston University in 1975 and shortly thereafter returned to Manchester to practice law with his father, a former State's Attorney for Hartford County and State Representative. In 1976, he and Marcie Lain were married at the Colgate University Chapel in Hamilton, New York. It was a relationship sparked during JD's law school days when his famous (infamous) parties were regular and well-attended events. The morning after one particularly rollicking evening, he awoke to find a telephone number scribbled in lipstick on his bedroom mirror. JD asked one of his housemates if it would be a call worth making. She said yes, he did and the rest is history. JD loved the law and continued to practice throughout his illness. He had broad expertise and experience and was as comfortable litigating complex, high-stakes cases as he was executing wills and handling real estate closings. Serving such a wide-ranging clientele, JD was at once a business advisor, social worker, confessor and educator. He never tired of extricating clients from the legal predicaments in which they often found themselves and prided himself on his common sense and practicality. His knowledge and legal astuteness were highly valued among both colleagues and clients. Even more notably, so was his integrity. JD was as honest and as straightforward as the day is long and, during the five decades he practiced law, he never wavered from that stance. In addition to maintaining a busy law practice, JD was involved in a number of community and public service activities. He was a Director of the SBM Charitable Foundation and a six-term Chairperson of the Manchester Library's Board of Trustees. He was also a Director of the Savings Bank of Manchester and Trustee of the Visiting Nurses Association as well as a past president of the Manchester Bar Association. Most significantly, he was a fantastic, loving husband as well as a devoted and caring father to his two sons. Wonderful memories include multi-decade family vacations at Saranac Lake in the Adirondacks with his beloved Colgate Camp community, outings to the Hartford Civic Center for Whalers games, and non-stop cheering at all of the boys' soccer games, basketball events and track meets. He also relished many years of special gatherings with the entire LaBelle clan. Throughout his almost four-year dance with stage four cancer, JD never gave up the lead. He was incredibly resilient, patient, independent and optimistic. His life was truly an exemplar and impactful one. He leaves behind cherished relationships with family, friends and associates too numerous to name. The steadfast love of his childhood friends, John Bielski and Jim Martens, as well as the unflagging friendship and loyalty of Bob Dorin, will be forever embedded in his spirit. Besides his beloved wife, JD is survived by his sons, John and Alec; his sister, Mary Claire Suter; brothers Tom (Laura) and Dan (Jobie); as well as many dear nieces and nephews. Tragically, his youngest brother, Peter, was himself in hospice at the time of JD's passing. His family would like to offer special thanks to the doctors and entire staff of Regional Cancer Care Associates for the fine care he received over the course of his illness as well as the compassionate support provided by the hospice staff at the Visiting Nurse & Health Services of Connecticut.
Friends may call at the John F. Tierney Funeral Home, 219 West Center St., Manchester on Sunday, August 24, from 2 to 5 p.m. Memorial donations may be made to the Manchester Land Conservation Trust or to a charity of the donor's choice. For online condolences please visit www.tierneyfuneralhome.com. To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of John, please visit our Tree Store.