John Joseph DeStefano III

1958 - 2024

Norwich - John Joseph DeStefano III, age 66, of Norwich, passed away peacefully Aug. 24, 2024, at the William W. Backus Hospital in Norwich. His wife of 41 years, Deanne Mary DeStefano, was by his side along with the rest of his family and friends. John was born to John Joseph DeStefano Jr. and Elizabeth "Betty" Ann DeStefano June 26, 1958.

He grew up in Canterbury where he attended the Dr. Helen Baldwin Elementary School and received his high school diploma from Windham High School, Class of 1976. He continued his education, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Connecticut (UConn) School of Pharmacy, Class of 1982, and a Master of Business Administration degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in 1990.

From an early age, John took an interest in sports. He played baseball, basketball and soccer growing up in the Canterbury school system, and at Windham High School (WHS), he was a standout defensive end for Ed Ferrigno's Whippets. In John's senior year, he made All Conference in football. In addition, John also had a love for the game of golf and played for the WHS team in his senior year. It was a love that would last a lifetime as he developed into an excellent golfer.

As with everything in John's life, he became better and better at whatever he endeavored to do. He learned how to become a better student, a better athlete, a better man. He had an inner drive to always be the best that he could be. And to that degree, John achieved all that was important to him in life. A better husband, father, son, brother, uncle, or friend you will never know. His life has left an indelible mark on all the lives he touched.

John was a devoted husband, father, volunteer and educator. He married Deanne in 1983; and they enjoyed 41 years of each other's company, raising their son Andre DeStefano. While living in Franklin, John coached and refereed intramural basketball and baseball for his son's teams. John was always thinking of his family first. In his spare time he loved vacationing in New Hampshire, and Maine with his family where he could enjoy the mountain views, as well as golfing every chance he got.

John started his career working directly with patients as a practicing clinical pharmacist. He then transitioned to IT, where he accumulated 25 years of healthcare interoperability experience. John served as chief technology officer of HITE-CT, Connecticut's first Health Information Exchange. He also directed the integration and interoperability team at a large Connecticut-based integrated delivery network. He joined Hyphen in 2014, as director of innovation, a role that focuses on innovation and health information exchange (HIE). He was a passionate teacher and has held adjunct positions at the University of New Haven and Sacred Heart University. Most recently, John was the chief platform architect at Hyphen, where he worked toward enhancing the payer and provider collaboration within the healthcare industry. John always strived to make an impact in the world of healthcare, and left a part of himself in everything he did.

John is predeceased by his father John Joseph DeStefano Jr. John is survived by his wife Deanne, of Norwich; son Andre John DeStefano of Eastford; mother Elizabeth DeStefano of Norwich; brother Jeffery DeStefano and his wife Linda of Crofton, Md.; brother Gerald DeStefano and his wife Dawn of Canterbury; sister Donna Pamment and her husband Timothy of Old Saybrook; uncle Robert DeStefano and wife Joan of Preston; aunt Beverly Dombkowski and husband Edward of Jewett City; aunt Lorraine Hebert of Jewett City; nephew Kyle DeStefano and his wife Victoria of Norwich; niece Ashley Sucholet and her husband Daniel of East Lyme; nephew Evan DeStefano of Crofton, Md.; niece Kara DeStefano of Crofton, Md.; niece Catherine Pamment of Old Saybrook; niece Elizabeth Pamment of Old Saybrook; great-nephew Saul Sucholet of East Lyme; and many loving friends and co-workers.

A Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 7, at Saint Patrick's Cathedral, 213 Broadway, Norwich. In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.