John Blanchard DuCote - Obituary

ohn Blanchard DuCote died on July 20, at his daughter Barbara Maxwell’s home in Annapolis. He was 96. Born February 6, 1920, in New Orleans, La to the late Alma Elizabeth Rolle and Edgar Arthur DuCote, whose ancestors came from France to Louisiana in the 1730’s, he spent his early years in a rural town outside of New Orleans where he developed a deep passion for learning. After graduating from high school in 1937, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served for four years. He subsequently worked as an asphalt chemist before joining the United States Air Force Reserves where he became an aviation cadet and completed pilot training in 1944. John’s military career was varied. He was a veteran of WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. In Korea, he flew the C-47 on 44 combat missions with the 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing after which his Commander wrote that he was a “motivated, dedicated, hardcore combat professional of the highest caliber.” John also served as an “Alert Strike Force” B-47 Aircraft Commander during the cold war. At 46 he volunteered to deploy to Vietnam where he was stationed at Cam Ranh Bay Air Base with the 457th Airlift Squadron and assigned to support the Green Beret forces in the central highlands. He flew the C-7A Caribou for over 900 combat hours. After Vietnam John was stationed in Hawaii where he deployed to Micronesia to assess military land needs in that region. John’s yearning for education never ceased. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Civil Engineering in 1956. After leaving military service he obtained an MBA in finance and a Ph.D. in Management and Organizational Development. He worked as a Management Consultant, in addition to being a Professor in business, marketing, and management at the U.S. International University in San Diego. John epitomized the definition of a southern gentleman and appreciated collecting fine art and a wide variety of books. He seemed most pleased when enjoying fine wine, New Orleans cuisine, conversations on a variety of intellectual topics, and his family and close friends. His generous spirit, sly smile, and gifts of insight, education and love were present until his last days. He was preceded in death by four siblings, Edgar, Rolle, Marie Daniels and Alma Reboul, and a daughter Jon Marie Damron. John is survived by his devoted daughter Barbara, son Donald, grandchildren Amy Webb and Chad Damron, and great-grandchildren Brianna, Sean and Matthew Hogan. A memorial service will be held at St. Anne’s Church, Annapolis, MD on Tuesday, August 2 at 11:00 am. A reception will immediately follow at the Parish Hall. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Anne Arundel County Public Library Foundation, 5 Harry S Truman Pkwy, Annapolis 21401 or Hospice of the Chesapeake, 90 Ritchie Hwy, Pasadena 21122. Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a date to be announced. Online condolences and tributes may be made by visiting the link on the left side of this page.