John Edward Denning
John Edward Denning, age 73, devoted husband, father, and papa, died suddenly on April 6, 2026. Raised in Newark, NJ, and son of Thomas Denning and Elizabeth Delany Denning, John graduated from St. Joseph’s College in Maine, where he met and married his wife, Anne. For eight years, they lived in Syracuse, NY, where their children, Jack and Jessica, were born. For the next 28 years, they raised their family in Washington Township, NJ, until they moved to Philadelphia, PA in 2010. That was followed by the births of their granddaughters Julie and Kacey, who, along with their children, were the most welcomed joys of John’s life. He had a long, successful career as a retail supervisor that began with House of Fabrics in 1975 and ended with his retirement from Dollar Tree Stores in 2010.
Although larger than life, John enjoyed the little things when the kids were growing up: watching a thunderstorm from the garage; ChiChi’s on a Friday night; an ice cream cone or a Blockbuster movie on a Saturday evening; a lazy Sunday watching the Eagles, old war movies, and golf. He was a natural master of the Teacups and Tilt-a-Whirl, which he enjoyed as much as, if not more than, the kids did. He never missed a baseball game and never declined a game of catch or a game of HORSE. He was a steady, dependable Dad.
After their move to Philadelphia and through their retirement years, John and Anne immersed themselves in a new adventure. They walked miles exploring their new neighborhood. Saturdays meant a walk to the farmers’ market at Rittenhouse Square. Outdoor festivals, concerts, and pop-up beer gardens filled their calendar. They spent summer days taking their granddaughters to museums, parks, and splash pads. And they continued to plan trips to Europe, sharing the research and figuring out ways to travel for two weeks or longer with only their carry-on luggage.
John lived a rich life. His broad musical taste was reflected in his own eclectic playlists and in his decades-long season tickets to the Philadelphia Orchestra. He loved traveling as a family to Maine and exploring new cities across the country together. Closer to home, he enjoyed the familiarity of eating at local pubs as well as the novelty of discovering new restaurants. Weekends usually meant he was at the grill, at first in the New Jersey backyard and then years later on the rooftop deck of the apartment. Winter often found him at the kitchen stove, making his own spaghetti sauce, a beloved family tradition. His delivery and timing would fuel the banter during spirited games of Cribbage or Progressive Rummy, his contagious laugh bringing smiles to the faces of loved ones around the card table. He was an avid golfer who enjoyed the retelling of a round of golf almost as much as playing it. He was a history buff and a voracious reader of books about World War II, its heroes, its battles, its personal accounts, and the intricate logistical planning that supported troop movements. But among the riches in his life, he was most proud of his children; he cherished their company as adults and his memories of them growing up.
John was genuine, witty, loving, generous, and kind. He will be forever missed by his wife, children, daughter-in-law Melissa, and grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister Betsy Walker and husband Joel of Athens, GA; brother Tom Denning and wife Susan of Lusby, MD; and brother Michael Denning and wife Ellen of Whitehouse, NJ.
According to his wishes, there were no public services. Anyone so inclined may make a contribution in his name to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.
