John F. Dombrowski

John Francis Dombrowski, 96, formerly of, Marblehead & Salem MA died peacefully at home on Saturday May 16, 2026, with family by his side.

John was the youngest of six children born to Jan & Wladyslawa Dombrowski who raised them on Herbert Street in Salem in the same house that was the boyhood home of Nathaniel Hawthorne. John married the love of his life Barbara Letarte in 1955. They eventually moved to Marblehead where they raised their family and resided for the majority of their marriage. In 2014, John and Barbara moved to Cape Elizabeth, ME to be closer to their children.

Together they enjoyed skiing, tennis, the arts and traveling. John was the City of Salem men’s tennis champion for both singles and doubles.

John served on the U.S.S. Macon CA-132, a heavy cruiser during his Navy tour and participated in two midshipmen cruises to the Mediterranean and North Sea.

He was a 42-year employee of Sylvania and the Plant Superintendent of its R&D facility on Boston St in Salem. He was active in the community serving as President and on the Board of the Salem Chamber of Commerce as well as multiple other civic organizations.

A man of strong Catholic faith, John served as a teacher and coordinator of the religious education program at Star of the Sea Parish in Marblehead. He and Barbara were Pre Cana mentors and served together with My Brothers Table, a soup kitchen, for many years.

In their retirement, John and Barbara traveled the world together. Including a special trip to, Rosciszewo, Poland, the birthplace of his parents. He was very proud of his Polish heritage.

His family was blessed to have the best husband, father, grandfather & great grandfather around.

John is survived by his son, Scott Dombrowski and his wife, Karen of Cape Porpoise ME and daughter Beth Flathers and her husband, Sean of Cape Elizabeth ME, five grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. John is also survived by his sister, Jennie Chouinard of Salem. He was predeceased by his wife of 65 years, Barbara, who passed away in 2020, as well as his parents Jan and Wladyslawa Dombrowski, brother Kazimer Dombrowski, and sisters Helen Regan, Sally Butler and Dorothy Kornatoski.

The Dombrowski/Flathers families wish to express its deep gratitude to the staff at So ME Hospice (Andwell) for their compassionate and loving care for John over the past few months.

A service will be held in Marblehead in July with details to follow. For additional information or to online guestbook, please call 978-744-0497 or visit www.MurphyFuneralHome.com.