John Gregory Domareki

SKOWHEGAN – John Gregory Domareki passed away peacefully at his home on Sept. 19, 2024, one day before his 50th birthday. John didn’t get to come to the big party planned for him, but we will celebrate him always.

Born on Sept. 20, 1974, in Rahway, N.J., John was the oldest son of Gregory and Mary Domareki, and younger brother to sisters Mary, Sarah, and Catherine, who soon welcomed him in their games. As the family grew, John became a gentle playmate and protector to his younger brothers and sister, Greg, Luke, and Bridget. As the fourth of seven children, he was literally and figuratively at the center of our large family.

John attended Adams School in Castine where at his 8th grade graduation, he was awarded The Linda Calder Award for Kindness, Courage, and Concern for Others.

John was a well-loved member of Skowhegan High School, where he was voted “Student of the Month” by the faculty in November 1994 and graduated in 1995. During the time he was in high school and for the rest of his life, John was a manager for the Skowhegan football and basketball teams. He dedicated over 34 years to supporting coaches and players and was proud to cheer on the 1998 basketball and 2022 football teams to state championships. One of the greatest honors of his life was being inducted into the Skowhegan Football Hall of Fame—a testament to an athletic community that truly loved and supported him.

John was a natural athlete. Over the years, he played on many teams with his brothers, coached by his father. On the basketball court, he could swish a three pointer. As a baseball player, he had a smooth, powerful swing and a great arm, and he was remembered for picking a runner off first base while pitching. John participated in the Special Olympics and was particularly talented at the softball throw. He loved spending time with his friends Robbie, Erika, Erin, Kurt, and James. He also loved dressing up to go to dances with his fiancée, Sharon Moody. John and Sharon were crowned Prom King and Queen of the 2023 Elks Club dance.

John worked for 26 years at the Skowhegan Hannaford, where he was proud to be named Employee of the Month. He loved his job and the people he worked with, and he always enjoyed discussing Skowhegan and Patriot sports with his coworkers and community members alike.

John moved through the world with grace. He was a beautiful dancer, the best listener, and a kind, caring, and diplomatic friend. John was a peaceful soul whose calm dignity and gentle humor brought comfort to those around him. He had a delicate emotional barometer, and he could read a room and situation, always providing a perfect and pithy response. John had a deep belief in God and Jesus, and he talked about them as friends. When the family faced health worries or other big problems, John’s mother would say, “I’ll have Johnny pray.” John was a loving son and showed his natural paternal instincts as a loving brother, uncle and godfather, roles that filled him with immense pride.

John’s family is grateful for all the love he received from the Skowhegan community throughout his life. We are honored to have had him in our lives for 50 years. If it is possible to love a son and brother more, we don’t know how.

John is survived by his father, Greg, his mother, Mary; his siblings and their spouses, Mary and Jonathan, Sarah, Catherine and Ashish, Greg and Sarah, Luke and Maria, and Bridget and Gabriel; and his fiancée, Sharon Moody. He will also be missed by his extended family and 14 nieces and nephews who adored him, Nicholas, Sophie, Michael, Rose, Clementine, Anya, Dom, Eve, Liv, Jack, Nicole, Andrei, Nini, and Leonora.

A viewing and Irish wake will be held on Saturday Sept. 28 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Smart and Edwards Funeral Home, which has moved to 19 Washburn Lane, Skowhegan, a ¼ mile past Redington-Fairview Hospital on Route 104 in Skowhegan.

A celebration of John’s life will be held from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday Sept. 29 at the Barn at Loon Cove, 940 Waterville Rd., Skowhegan.

Please visit John’s memorial page at https://smartandedwardsfh.com/obituaries/john-domareki-2024 where condolences, photos, and special memories may be shared.