John A. Nammack, the 'Jazz Man'

John Austin Nammack, 86, of Lewes, passed away peacefully Sunday, July 6, 2014, surrounded by his beloved wife and children. John “Diamond Dynamic,” or “Di,” was born June 23, 1928, in Far Rockaway, N.Y., son of the late Dr. Griswold D. and Margaret P. Nammack.

He earned his bachelor's degree in English at Georgetown University, and his masters in international relations at New York University. He joined the U.S. Air Force in 1951 and while stationed in Rota, Spain, met Aina, daughter of the Consul of Norway in Sevilla.

John retired in Lewes with his wife Aina after a busy and rewarding career. He founded a successful air service development firm, Nammack Associates, in 1983, and ran it with two of his children for 16 years. Before that, he served as the Civil Aeronautics Board Director of the Office of Community and Congressional Relations as primary liaison between Congress and state and local officials involved in air service matters. For seven years prior to joining the CAB, John was executive vice president of the National Association of State Aviation Officials where he represented state aviation interests before Congress, federal agencies, and the aviation industry.

John was an experienced pilot and aviation journalist who served as editor of several major national aviation publications for many years, including Airport World, Aviation Week, Airport Services Management and Aviation Monitor. He was on active duty as a pilot and intelligence officer with the U.S. Air Force from 1951-57, serving in the Korean War and in the worldwide operations of the Military Air Transport Services. He spent five years in São Paulo, Brazil, organizing and directing Portuguese and Spanish language business publications, and serving as a Latin American correspondent for Vision Inc.

John’s true passions included teaching, jazz, gardening, international relations, reading, writing and black-and-white cookies. He taught numerous semesters at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute of the University of Delaware, introducing jazz and imparting his knowledge of politics and foreign affairs to many Osher members. He was a jazz historian, and as a hobby, he gave away many CDs of carefully chosen jazz music to his friends and students.

He took great pride in his bearded irises, red and yellow tulips, and delicious tomatoes. He was a well-read, eloquent speaker and talented writer. His children will always remember his ubiquitous sense of humor, and his pride in them and their chosen paths. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

He is survived by his wife Aina; daughter Marta Nammack of Gloucester, Va.; son John Nammack of Washington, D.C.; daughter Carla Nammack, of Catlett, Va.; son Austin Nammack, of Locust Grove, Va.; and grandchildren Yukari, Tatsuya, Christina, Austin, Brooke and Nicholas.

Services will be held at St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church, 152 Tulip Drive, Lewes, at 11 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 16. Arrangements are being handled by Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Lewes.

John liked to make others smile, so in lieu of flowers, please find a way to make somebody smile, and think of him as you do your good deed.

Please visit John's Life Memorial webpage and sign his online guestbook at www.parsellfuneralhomes.com.