John De Puy

John R. De Puy In his studio, amongst his artwork, looking out over the landscape that brought him so much joy and surrounded by his family (and his beloved cat, Tigger), my husband, John De Puy’s spirit soared peacefully and gently to the heavens on March 15, 2023. John was born on December 17, 1927, in New Brunswick, NJ to Evelyn and Raymond De Puy. His grandfather Chester De Puy owned a ranch in Taos County in the late 1890s. In 1952 he was honorably discharged from the US Armed Forces after having served 6 ½ years as a Hospital Corpsman (US Navy) in the Korean War. Having lived over 95 years, John had what could only be described as a truly adventurous, rich and very full life. Despite many travels and living both in the states and abroad, he always called the Southwest his true home. He is a well-known Southwestern artist, regionally affiliated with the group called the Taos Moderns. His style was heavily influenced by the German Expressionists, and he credits a visit with Emil Nolde as a lifealtering moment. His artwork is in many public and private collections here in the states and abroad. I also personally knew him to be very generous in giving away or trading his artwork to those otherwise not able to afford to buy artwork. He had a fondness for encouraging young people to ‘follow their bliss’ and considered his painting a vocation; he painted every single day. While John held degrees from Columbia and Oxford Universities and studied at the Art Students League and was comfortable discussing art, philosophy, history or politics, he was as equally at ease talking to children and young people or even the homeless for hours on end. I was blessed and fortunate to witness this on multiple occasions over the years. He lived a life dedicated to nature, preserving the land and fighting for those less fortunate. A strong believer in civil rights and land rights, John was involved in many situations defending those rights. He was very proud to have supported the land grant movement in Northern New Mexico. He considered Edward Abbey, the late environmental activist and writer, a brother and best friend. Their many ‘monkey wrenching’ escapades became the stuff of legends. With Abbey and others, he hiked and camped all over the Southwest and especially throughout Southern Utah (with a sketchbook in hand, of course). I was recently reminded of something Abbey wrote about John a long time ago, an account of his dancing like Zorba the Greek in a bar in Ajo, Arizona: “Eyes closed, dancing, he flies, he soars, he sails like an eagle across the empyrean of his soul. Alone in the universe, he makes it all his own.” I like to think and hope that John’s spirit will continue to dance and soar into eternity. John leaves behind many wonderful friends and a loving family which includes me, his wife, Isabel and our daughter Noelle De Puy, daughters Ariane Tappolet (Jacques) and Jacqueline Leistner (Gilbert), sons Marc De Puy (Annie), Carl De Puy (Caitlin), granddaughters Emily Joly (Sylvain), Sophia De Puy, and Camille De Puy, grandson Grayson De Puy and great- granddaughter Lea Joly. John was so proud of his children and grandchildren. They meant the world to him. At this moment no memorial services are planned.

Arrangements by Rivera Funeral Home. To share a memory, please visit our website at www.riverafuneralhome.com