Bio - John A. de Luce

Raised in the coastal town of Hingham, Massachusetts, John A. de Luce grew up with a passion for sailing and an abiding comfort in the Old Ship Church, a former Puritan meeting house built in 1683. He left for college, set on becoming a Unitarian minister. After graduating from Boston University with an A.B. in philosophy, John attended Meadville Theological School in Chicago.

John's passion for boats, ships, and the sea drew him back to the East Coast where he began a career in ship management with Sea-Land Service. Extensive travel in Asia and Europe, and overseas assignments in Hong Kong and Bermuda provided John with an understanding of and respect for the uniqueness and precious value of different cultures, faiths, philosophies, world views, and the need for all people to work diligently to live peacefully together.

Sea-Land also introduced John to the love of his life, and Carol introduced John to Milltown, our church, and to Jesus Christ. And with that last introduction John's passion for church returned.

John formally joined our church in 2003, became a substitute teacher for the Adult Sunday School class, served on and chaired various committees, and in January 2009, accepted the position of Director of Christian Education. John's ministries in our church continue to focus on children, youth, adults, and on multigenerational programs which mix up gender, age, ethnicity, passions, comfort, and discomfort, all to guide him and others into becoming truer disciples of Christ Jesus.

John and Carol bask in the sunshine cast by their three children from former marriages and their six grandchildren, the oldest of whom, Kevin Wakefield, they are joyfully raising.