John Hancock Sutliff Jr., of Amherst, MA passed away on April 9^th, 2022.   John was born in Albany, NY on May 16, 1942.  John attended West Virginia University where he met Ann Burton.  In 1966, after both had graduated from WVU, John and Ann married, and John entered the military.  During those early married years, John and Ann were based in Fort Belvoir, VA, as well Bangkok, Thailand, where John served as a 1^st Lieutenant in the Army Corps of Engineers.  After John left the military, he worked as a production manager in the corrugated paper industry, a profession that resulted in multiple moves across several eastern states.  But their two children, Susan and Trey, primarily grew up in Amherst, MA, the place all four Sutliffs call “home.”  After leaving his position as a Production Manager for Packaging Corporation of America in Northampton, John worked for Tarnow Nursery in Chicopee where he put his passion for forestry to good use.

In his spare time, John could be found golfing, whether it was playing with his friends and family at Amherst Golf Club, walking a billy goat course in Sunapee NH, or traveling throughout New England to try out as many beautiful courses as possible.   During the winter months, John and Ann would head south to Siesta Key, FL where John spent his days walking the beach, playing golf, dining with friends, and watching the beautiful sunsets with a gin and tonic in hand.  

John is survived by his wife Ann, his children, Trey and Susan and Susan’s husband Michael, and four grandchildren: Sam, Olivia, Sophie and Lila.  Pre-deceased by his parents John (Jack) and Elizabeth (Betsy) Sutliff, John is also survived by his four siblings:  Pam, Patsy, George, and Louise.

Both John and Ann have been so fortunate to have built such a strong community of friends in Amherst spanning 40+ years.  He loved his friends and family, and he will be missed every day.  A celebration of John’s life will be held on John’s 80^th birthday, Monday, May 16^th, at 11 am at Grace Episcopal Church, Amherst, followed by a reception at the Sutliff home.  In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Sara’s Wish Foundation, 23 Ash Lane, Amherst, MA (www.saraswish.org).     Memorial guestbook at www.douglassfuneral.com