John DeWitt Colony

John DeWitt Colony of Sugar Hill, New Hampshire, passed away May 25, 2025, a week before his 77th birthday.  John was a perpetual student in all things in life, including philosophy, religion, society, art, and anything with wheels, wings and engines.  Some may know that he piloted a plane at the tender age of 10.  He has had and enjoyed his motorcycles since the age of 16.  While he decided last year was the time to sell his two-wheelers, his all time favorite, a 1977 BMW Airhead, is still in his shed.  John also enjoyed years of autocross racing in his 1999 Miata at the Loudon racetrack.

He also liked to try new things, like watercolor painting classes. When there was a new discussion group, he joined in.  A sharp mind and lightning quick wit were his trademarks.  There are many who said that John mastered the art of listening.   He enjoyed casual encounters with those who crossed his path at the Littleton Coffee Pot restaurant and relished conversations with the regulars there for the past half-century.  He would often mention the Dutch Treat trivia nights as well and the enjoyable dinners at the local 99, where he dined 3 nights a week. 

In Sugar Hill, John was very much a part of the fabric of the community.  For many years he held positions on the zoning board and was supervisor of the checklist.  Whenever he had a job to do, he put all his focus on it and performed in the most exacting way possible.

John was the son of the late John Kenneth Colony and Margaret Carter Colony.  He was also predeceased by his sister, Nancy Carter Colony.  John is survived by his sister and brother-in-law, Jane Colony Potyondy and Laszlo of Hopkinton, NH as well as nephew and nieces; Kai Potyondy of Renton, WA, Peter Potyondy of Haarlem, The Netherlands, and Jennifer Barrett of Hillsboro, NH.

John would often relay simple Zen writings, and the one parable he referred to most at the end was the following:  “A man traveling across a field encountered a tiger.  He fled, the tiger after him.  Coming to a precipice, he caught hold of the root of a wild vine and swung himself down over the edge.  The tiger sniffed at him from above.  Trembling, the man looked down to where, far below, another tiger was waiting to eat him.  Only the vine sustained him.  Two mice, one white and one black, little by little, started to gnaw away at the vine.  The man saw a luscious strawberry near him.  Grasping the vine with one hand, he plucked the strawberry with the other.  How sweet it tasted!”

A celebration of John’s life will take place Sunday, June 15th at the Sugar Hill Meeting House at 2:00pm.  All are welcome and encouraged to come with their favorite story to share. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of John DeWitt Colony, please visit our floral store.