John F. Sanfacon May 13, 1940 – June 30, 2026

John F. Sanfacon, 86, of Mt. Arlington, NJ, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, following an unexpected cancer diagnosis earlier in the month.

John was born on May 13, 1940, in Paterson, NJ, to Thomas A. and Lauretta R. (Cyr) Sanfacon. The youngest of four children, he was part of the first generation in his family raised speaking English rather than French.

John attended PS 13 and St. Joseph’s Elementary Schools and the Delbarton School before going on to the University of Notre Dame. It was at Delbarton that he first discovered his love of languages, a passion he carried to Notre Dame, where he graduated in 1961 with a Bachelor of Arts in Teaching French as a Second or Foreign Language. He went on to earn a Master’s degree from Columbia University in 1963, becoming fluent in French, Spanish, and Russian.

That same year, John returned to Delbarton School, where he would teach French, Spanish, and Russian for the next 53 years, retiring in 2016. He was always striving to find new and inspiring ways to reach his students, and over the course of his career he served as department chair and sat on the Academic Council, the Admissions Committee, and the Trivia Team. At his retirement reception, it was said that “he was a legend, and his impact on Delbarton School was both profound and far-reaching.”

John’s love of learning never waned. A walking encyclopedia on an astonishing range of subjects, he once advanced to the final round of Jeopardy! contestant tryouts, though he was ultimately passed over for the live show — his buzzer timing was simply too quick for the format.

An avid collector of stamps, coins, paper currency, and rocks and minerals from around the world, John found real joy in handpicking pieces from his collections to share with friends and family. He was a member of the Morris Museum Mineralogical Society (MMMS) from the 1980s until his passing, where he organized mineral shows, identified specimens, and wrote for the society newsletter. In 2017, he was named the club’s first-ever “Rockhound of the Year.” A popular speaker at Delbarton School, in his community, and for MMMS and the Morris Museum, his favorite topics included synthetic minerals, Fabergé eggs, and Russian minerals and gems. He donated portions of his personal collection to both Delbarton School and the Morris Museum, and from 2016 until his passing, he served as the Museum’s volunteer Geology Curator.

John loved recounting his many trips to Russia — some taken alongside Delbarton students — and the minerals, religious icons, and lacquer boxes he brought home from them. Come winter, he was a familiar sight in his ushanka, the traditional Russian fur hat, which he liked to explain gets its name from ushi, the Russian word for ears, which it was designed to keep warm.

Above all, John will be remembered as a thoughtful, kind, generous, encouraging, selfless, smart and humble man. He will truly be missed by many.

He is survived by his sister, Paula Bracker of Madison, WI; and many beloved nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, and grand-nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his stepmother, Vivian Yates Sanfacon; his sister, Loretta “Sandy” Graf; and his brother, Thomas J. Sanfacon.

Visitation will be held at Davis & Hepplewhite Funeral Home, 96 Main Street, Succasunna, NJ 07876, on Monday, July 13, 2026, beginning at 10:00 a.m. A funeral service will follow at 11:00 a.m., with a reception to follow until 12:30 p.m. Those wishing to attend the burial are invited to depart at 12:45 p.m. for Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, 52 Totowa Road, Totowa, NJ 07512.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Morris Museum Mineralogical Society, 6 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown, NJ 07960 or to a charity of your choice.