JOHN BETTI

BETTI--The Honorable John A. The honorable John A. Betti. Born in Ottawa, Illinois on January 6, 1931. Departed on August 14, 2025 and resided in North Palm Beach, Florida. Funeral Mass: Monday, September 29, 2025. Cemetery: Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. The Honorable John A. Betti passed away peacefully on August 14, 2025, in Palm Beach, Florida, surrounded by his family. He was a man of quiet strength, sharp wit, and unwavering integrity. He had a brilliant mind and a steady devotion to his wife and family. Rising from humble beginnings, he achieved distinction in both the automotive industry and public service. John was born on January 6, 1931, in Ottawa, Illinois to Italian immigrants, Ida and Luigi Betti, who came to America in search of a better life. He started school at the age of four, and against enormous obstacles, went on to attend college (the first of his family, and his hometown, to do so) to become an engineer, a goal set for him by his parents. John graduated from the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago with a Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering and began his impressive career in the Automotive Industry. As a student engineer his engineering and leadership skills were quickly recognized and in 1952, Chrysler selected him to join the Chrysler Institute of Engineering in Detroit. There he earned a Master's Degree in Automotive Engineering while working full-time and teaching engineering classes at night at two universities. John continued to excel at Chrysler and was often given roles and projects above his rank. In 1962, he left Chrysler to take an advanced engineering position at Ford Motor Company. John rose quickly through numerous positions in engineering, management, and company leadership. He had a reputation for transforming struggling programs and effectively implementing leading-edge changes. In fact, his success in changing the culture at Ford, by focusing on employee involvement programs and pioneering union-management relations through mutual respect, is widely recognized as key to Ford's turnaround in products, quality, and profitability at a crucial point in Ford's history. John's impressive achievements reached far beyond the Automotive Industry. He was Executive Vice President and a member of the Board of Directors when President George H.W. Bush requested that he accept the Presidential appointment of Under Secretary of Defense/Acquisition and National Armaments Director. During the Senate Confirmation process, when asked why he would give up his illustrious and lucrative career to join the government, he replied that he wanted to give back to the country that had given his family and himself such extraordinary opportunities for a better life. At the Pentagon, John was responsible for a $150 billion budget (1/2 the total defense budget) and 585,000 people. He implemented fundamental changes to streamline the research and acquisition functions by eliminating bureaucracy to reduce cost and improve quality and efficiency. John left a lasting mark at the Department of Defense; many of his initiatives were adopted as standard practice. His notable accomplishments were recognized with numerous honors and awards, the most cherished among them being the Honorary Citizenship that was bestowed upon him by the City of Montese, Italy, the town his parents left so many years before. Throughout his life, John donated his time and talent to work with non-profit and charitable foundations where he promoted initiatives committed to making life better for others. Ever humble, John never acknowledged an achievement nor accepted an award without insisting that his success was the direct result of the commitment, sacrifice, and guidance of his parents, his wife, and his family. John married the love of his life, "the wind beneath his wings," Joan Marie Doyle, on August 22, 1953. Joan and John were married 8 days short of 72 years. Anyone who had the privilege of knowing them, or seeing them together, delighted in the obvious devotion and love they shared. John continually proclaimed that his proudest achievement was his family. With Joan, John raised four daughters, Diane Betti Herrera, Denise Betti Carlson, Donna Marie Betti (deceased), and Joan Betti Kensicher; enjoyed three sons-in law, Larry J. Herrera (deceased), Glen (Fritz) A. Carlson III, and Herve Kensicher; and delighted in two grandsons, Leo John Kensicher, and Glen (Andrew) Carlson IV, all of whom adored, admired, and were continually inspired by him. John was truly a unique and a remarkable man. His legacy of integrity and personal moral strength will live on through the family he cherished. Funeral Mass Monday, September 29, 2025 - 11:00am at St. Hugo of the Hills Stone Chapel, 2215 Opdyke Road, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Visitation at the chapel begins Monday at 10:30am. Rite of Committal at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Southfield. A memorial service will be held at Lost Tree Village, in North Palm Beach, Florida at a later date; details will be forthcoming. Memorials may be sent to the Lost Tree Charitable Foundation in remembrance of The Honorable John A. Betti at losttreefoundation.org, 8 Church Lane, North Palm Beach, FL 33408. Share memories and sign tribute wall at AJDesmond.com