WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. —  John “Jack” Arthur Dietze Jr., 84 of Williamstown died suddenly and unexpectedly on Saturday August 13, 2022 at the Vermont Veterans Home in Bennington. He was born in La Jolla, CA on September 22, 1937 a son of the late John Arthur & Evelyn (Lyman) Dietze and his devoted stepmother Joan (MacDonald) Dietze.

Jack attended the Eaglebrook School and Deerfield Academy. He graduated from Williams College in 1959 as an Art History major intending to enroll in architecture school after his military service. At Williams, Jack ran cross country, played hockey and tennis his freshman year, and participated in the Williams Outing Club, the Yacht Club and the Sports Car Club. He is remembered by his Williams classmates as “welcoming with a wonderful smile and upbeat outlook about life” and as being “relaxed, low-key, comfortable, there was no edge…a good companion.”

Jack was a veteran of the US Navy. He was a United States Naval Officer School Candidate, having completed training in Newport, RI., and attended the United States Naval Aviation Ground Officers School, Class O Natechtracen, Jacksonville, Florida. In September of 1960, he completed Heavy Attack Squadron Training and passed the A3D all weather attack delivery bombardier navigator course. He flew from the aircraft carrier the USS Forrestal.

After his active duty in the Navy, rather than attending architecture school as he had planned, Jack worked in the family business, Dietze Inc., a ship and oil brokerage, focusing on the Scandinavian market. He then started his own company, what would become Dietze Associates, a manufacturing representative agency specializing in the ski and leisure sports industry. Moving from New York City and then Greenwich CT to Williamstown in 1975, he never looked back. A gifted athlete for his entire life until Parkinson’s Disease took its toll, he was a superb and elegant skier and tennis player, and, as a longtime member of the Taconic Golf Club, an avid golfer who thoroughly enjoyed playing with his buddies twice weekly. And he found particular pleasure in hiking the mountains and meadows of the beautiful Berkshires with his wife and his much beloved pups. He was an active member of the Clark Art Institute, the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Williamstown Rural Lands among other local organizations.

Jack is survived by his wife and best friend, Maureen (Meaney) Dietze whom he married on September 18, 1982, and his children, Lisa Dietze Molloy and her husband Peter of Yarmouth, ME and Pamela Dietze of Amesbury, MA. He also leaves his grandchildren, Jack Molloy, Maya Molloy, Amanda (Joshua) Roberts, and Dylan Hall; three great grandchildren; his brother, David Dietze of Reno, NV and sister Anina (Al) Nelon of Clearwater, FL and his loving in-laws Bob Halbrook, Martha Meaney and Frank Connors, Kate Meaney, Joe and Renee Meaney, John Meaney and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents and step-mother he was predeceased by his sisters Gloria Thompson and Pamela Halbrook.

FUNERAL NOTICE: A graveside service to celebrate the life of John Dietze will be on Saturday, September 17, 2022 at 11:00 AM at Southlawn Cemetery, Williamstown. A reception will follow immediately at the Dietze residence at 1712 Oblong Road. In lieu of flowers please consider a contribution in his honor to Williamstown Rural Lands, the Berkshire Humane Society, or a charity of your choice. The Dietze family would like to thank all the doctors, nurses, aides and therapists at the Vermont Veterans Home, North Village for the wonderful care they provided for the last 16 months. Flynn & Dagnoli Funeral Home – CENTRAL CHAPEL 74 Marshall St. North Adams, MA 01247 is entrusted with arrangements. To add to the Book of Memories, please visit www.flynndagnolifuneralhomes.com