Jack Allyson Daggett, beloved man of character
Jack Allyson Daggett, 78, passed quietly into the night Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. It was one of the few things he did quietly.
Jack lived as a boat at sea. A captain of his ship. Riding high and low – making it up as he went – trusting his intellect and prodigious work ethic to survive the mundane and experience the sublime. Living forever in that moment, Jack was a force of nature.
By trade, Jack was a butcher at his family’s meat market in Erie, Pa., and later in Garden Grove, Calif., where the family relocated. Jack earned his BS/MS in accounting and finance, graduating at the top of his class. Jack was a certified public accountant for Ernst and Young in Newport Beach, Calif., and later a CEO for a division of Coldwell Banker, overseeing hotel properties across the U.S. After relocating to the Delaware shore, Jack started over, creating a landscape business and later becoming the top residential real estate broker in Delaware by sales. For 15 years, Jack was instrumental in the sales and development of the Kings Creek Residential Community and Country Club in Rehoboth Beach and later in the sales and development of Bayville Shores, The Refuge, and Sandy Beach on West Fenwick Island. Jack was a closer.
By love, Jack was a first-chair trumpet player, a competitive golfer, a world-class gambler, a cigar smoker, and a connoisseur of custom-tailored clothes, handmade shoes, and classic European sports cars. He loved fresh sourdough bread pulled off in chunks and slathered in Land O’Lakes Butter, but only if the crust had a “bite.” He loved Pepsi that “ripped the back of his throat” as it went down. He loved milk chocolate nonpareils from Candy Kitchen, his margaritas golden, a perfectly cut New York strip steak served “Pittsburgh-style,” and 3-pound lobster tails that only those in the know could procure. Jack loved music deeply, loved the experience of going to live events, and played his music loud. Jack loved taking care of the communities in which he lived and likely planted more annuals over his years than any other resident in the tri-state area. And of course, Jack loved sports, all sports, and was an expert color commentator whether you wanted to hear it or not.
Jack was a loyal and generous son, sibling, partner, friend, father, grandfather, and dog owner. To his associates, Jack was a mentor who led with vision and integrity, and helped shape their careers. To his friends and family, Jack’s compassion and character shaped their lives. Over his lifetime, Jack was married four times and cherished each chapter. He is survived in blood by his brother, sister, son, and granddaughter, the apple of his eye.
The details of a life so lived on the “seas” comes in and out of focus. But if you knew him, you didn’t forget him, and his memory in the hearts and minds of those who crossed his path is likely etched deep. A celebration of life will be held in Jack’s honor Sunday, Nov. 30. If you would like to attend, send an email to the following address to receive details: celebrate.jackdaggett@gmail.com.
Enjoy your safe harbor, Jack. We love you.
