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Back of Memorial Card |
Memorial Card |
Memorial for John Zachary DeLorean
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Born in Detroit, MI on Jan. 6, 1925
Departed on Mar. 19, 2005 and resided in Bedminster, NJ.
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| Visitation: |
Wednesday, Mar. 23, 2005
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| Service: |
Private
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Please click on the links above for locations, times, maps, and directions.
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John Zachary DeLorean was born in a modest home in Detroit, Michigan on January 6, 1925. He was the eldest of four sons born to Zachary and Katherine DeLorean (nee. Pribak). His father was an hourly Ford Motor Company employee for over forty years.
From this humble beginning John became a powerhouse in the automotive industry due in large part to his parents and his uncle, Earl Pribak, stressing the value of education and dedication.
After graduation from Cass Technical High School, he served in the US Infantry during WWII. He attended Lawrence Institute of Technology where he formed a dance band and wrote a humor column for the school paper. He graduated with highest honors.
John attended the Chrysler Institute and received a masters degree in automotive engineering. He was then recruited by the Packard Motor Car Company where as a developmental engineer he was instrumental in a variety of major advancements in the then “Top Luxury Car” in America.
When Packard folded, John was recruited by Semon “Bunky” Knudsen, then head of Pontiac. Bunky established a new department of Advanced Engineering and initially John was the entire department.
The many innovations pioneered by John…including the GTO…. propelled Pontiac from a ho-hum car to third place in auto sales and the highest profit GM Car Division. John was rewarded for his contributions by being promoted to Chief Engineer and then General Manager of Pontiac.
To strengthen his grip on the non-engineering side of business, John earned a masters degree in business administration at the University of Michigan night school.
John’s proven ability to lead and his dramatic achievements resulted in his being promoted to General Manager of Chevrolet Division, a division that had become an underachiever.
John had a management philosophy of giving responsibility to the lowest possible level (“the janitor knows which broom is best” - was John’s motto). John’s flamboyant life style was frequently at odds with GM upper echelon and John decided he would be happier running his own car company….and thus the “Back To The Future” car, The DMC was born. The project was backed by the British Government and the plant was located near Belfast. The DMC was a great success, the public was enamored with the vehicle and dealer orders were piling up.
John was pleased with his contributions to the automotive industry. He is credited with over 200 patents. Every car built in the world today contains at least one of his creations.
John was a member of the American Academy of Science, the Society of Automotive Engineers, the New York Academy of Science, the National Geographic Society, DeLorean Owners Club, the GTO Club and the Packard Club.
Beloved husband of Sally (nee Baldwin). Dear father of Zachary Tavio DeLorean, Kathryn Ann DeLorean and Sheila Baldwin DeLorean. Grandfather of Kevin and Acacia. Brother of Charles “Chuck” DeLorean (Shirley), Jack DeLorean (Karen) and George DeLorean. Also several nieces and nephews.
Family will receive friends Wednesday 2-8 pm at A.J. Desmond & Sons Funeral Home, 32515 Woodward (btwn 13-14 Mile), Royal Oak.
Funeral services will be held privately.
In lieu of flowers memorial tributes to The Lawerence Technological University, John Z. DeLorean Scholarship Fund, 21000 W. Ten Mile Rd., Southfield, MI 48075 ~or~ Morristown Memorial Hospital Foundation, Campaign for the Heart, 100 Madison Ave., Morristown, NJ 07960.
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