John Herman "Hank" DeJong of St. Mary's City, Maryland slipped peacefully into heaven on Monday, May 25, 2009. Hank was born January 8, 1928 in Bronx, New York, to Margret and Jan Pieter DeJong.

As a first generation American, he came from very humble beginnings. After graduating from high school in 1947, Hank enlisted in the United States Army, where he served in Japan obtaining the rank of Sergeant. Upon honorable discharge, he entered Rhodes Prep school and after graduation he enrolled in Manhattan College. Hank graduated from Manhattan College in 1954 with a Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering.

In June of 1954, Hank was employed at the Naval Air Test Center (NATC), Patuxent River, Maryland, as an Electrical Engineer. From 1954 until 1978, he remained in the Electrical Branch as it transitioned through two Naval Air Test Center reorganizations. During this time Hank earned, with honors, a Bachelors of Arts and Science degree in Mathematics from the University of Maryland, where he was a member of Phi Kappa Phi honors society. Hank also earned a Master of Science degree in Operations Research from George Washington University.

Early in his career Hank developed a set of specifications which resulted in the procurement of the first harmonic wave analyzer capable of printing out a complete vibration spectrum from 10 Hz to 2000 Hz. He also developed a telemetry system for recording elevator trim control switch data on the F2H-2 aircraft. As a project engineer, Hank conducted electrical and electronic trials on the FJ-3, T-34B, TF-1, OE-2, AD-5W, WV-3, HSS-1, HOK-1, F9F-8P, P2V-7, A3D-1, F11F-1, HR25-1, A-4, F-4B, P-3A, H-3, and F/A-18 aircraft.

In 1978, Hank accepted a temporary assignment as a Section Head in the Ground Support Systems Branch at the Systems Engineering Test Directorate (SETD). In 1979, he returned to the Electronic Systems Branch of SETD as an Electromagnetic Specialist. From 1982 through 1986 Hank was SETD's Antenna and Avionics Section Head (SY80). In 1986, Hank was appointed as the Naval Air Test Center's Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS) Program Manager, the job he maintained until the he retired. Throughout his career, Hank made many valuable contributions to testing and evaluating Navy aircraft. Over the last ten years of his career, Hank established himself as an expert in the communications systems field and had gained particular prominence in the JTIDS program. Hank retired from NATC on January 7, 1991 after a career that spanned four decades. Upon his retirement, Hank began to teach real estate certification classes until 2007.

Hank was an avid sports fan who loved the New York Yankees, New York Giants, and the University of Maryland Terrapins. He was a Maryland Terrapin club member who held season tickets to football games for the past twenty years and enjoyed going to the games with his wife, son and grandchildren. Hank was a trivia buff who was always ready to test with a good brain teaser. Hank was very quick witted and had a wonderful sense of humor. He was a fascinating storyteller and he kept his family and friends on the edge of their seats with stories about his life experiences.

Hank was a good, kind, Christian man, who helped many people throughout his life. His greatest loves were God, the church and his family. He was a resident of St. Mary's County for over 50 years and he attended mass at St. Cecilia Church in St. Mary's City, St. Michael's Church in Ridge, and Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Lexington Park..

Hank was the past President of the United States Navy League Patuxent River chapter, a 17 year volunteer with the American Cancer Society, a life member of the Patuxent River Elks Lodge, a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Washington Branch, and also a member of the American Legion, the University of Maryland Terrapin Club, the National Association of Retired Federal Employers (NARFE), and both the National and Southern Maryland Board of Realtors.

Hank was preceded in death by his parents, Margret and Jan Pieter DeJong.

He is survived by his loving wife of 47 years, Annie; his daughter Nancy Simmons (Ron) and his sons Francis Stuart Newton and Joseph Jackson (Beverly); grandchildren David Simmons (Margie), Eddie Schatz (Lisa), Michelle Boyer (Mark), Christian Newton, Adrianne Newton, Amanda Newton, Jonathan Jackson and Sherry Jackson-Mehl (Eric Baker); 7 great grandchildren; and his sister, Rose Marie Johnson.

The family requests in lieu of flowers that donations be made to Ridge Volunteer Rescue Squad and/or St. Michael's Catholic School in memory of John H. DeJong.

Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, MD.