John Livingstone Packett

PACKETT, John Livingstone, 77, of Richmond, passed away peacefully on Monday, February 1, 2021. He was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Mary Ellen Packett; and his siblings, Larry Packett, Francis Wright and Virginia Mae Barnes. John is survived by his wife of 45 years, Shirley D'Adamo Packett; his son, Domenick Packett (Samantha Heintzelman); daughter, Genevieve Dowdy (Jeff); grandson, Kylan Dowdy; his sister, Barbara Walker of Sharps, Va.; father-in-law, Domenick D'Adamo; and many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. John was born in Warsaw, Va. on November 11, 1943. He graduated from University of Richmond in 1966 and served his country in the Navy during the Vietnam War. J.P. spent the next 40 years in his dream career as a Sports Writer for the Richmond Times-Dispatch. He married his Shirley in 1975 and raised his children to love life as he did. After retirement, he continued to write, travel and to "slow time down" with friends and family, especially his beloved grandson. In 2009, John was inducted into the Richmond Tennis Association Hall of Fame. He will continue to brighten the lives of his loved ones and watch over his Boston Red Sox, for many years to come. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in John's memory to the Richmond Tennis Association, P.O. Box 17612, Richmond, Va. 23226 or at richmondtennis.org. A memorial service will be held in person at a later date, but a memorial Mass will be live-streamed on Tuesday, February 9, at 10 a.m. here: youtube.com/watch?v=kEW68V9OvUQ.