John Deakin around 1950.
Born: December 6, 1916, New Jersey, United States
Died: April 5, 1980, Sarasota, Florida, United States
Nationality: American
Family: Deakin
Glassworking relatives:
- Grace S. Deakin (wife)
- John R. Deakin (son)
- Nona H. Deakin (wife)
- Ethel Maude Howell (mother-in-law)
- Grace M. Howell (sister-in-law)
- Leigh B. Howell (brother-in-law)
- Marie S. Howell (sister-in-law)
- Robert M. Howell, Sr. (father-in-law)
- Robert M. Howell, Jr. (brother-in-law)
Active: [at least 1939]-1980
Associated acts:
Brief biography
John Deakin was born to Harry and Gladys Deakin (née Dryhust) in New Jersey on December 6, 1916. His father was a salesman. He was one of at least five children. He grew up in New Jersey, and learned to lampwork from the Howell family during the Great Depression.
Deakin married Nona Howell in 1938 in New Jersey. The couple had one child together, John Robert Deakin, in 1939. They built a workshop at their home to make glass and demonstrated to local clubs. Deakin also had a job producing scientific glassware for a medical plant, and during the war made glass-to-metal seals for the Manhattan project. Nona died in November 1944 after a long illness.
Deakin remarried by 1949 to a woman named Grace. Together they had a daughter, Kathrine. The family moved to Sarasota, Florida, around 1948, and opened a tourist attraction, The Glass Blowers, on North Tamiami Trail. John and Grace ran the business for the rest of their lives.
Deakin died in Sarasota, Florida, on April 5, 1980, and is buried in Venice Memorial Gardens in Venice Gardens, Florida.
