John F. "Jack"

Navert, 71

DOVER - John F. "Jack" Navert of Dover, beloved husband to Gayle (Jones) Navert, passed away Monday, May 21, 2007, after a long illness. He was 71.

Mr. Navert was born April 16, 1936, in Philadelphia, son of the late John and Emma Hannah Navert. He moved to Dover during his childhood.

He attended Dover High School prior to enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he was a veteran of the Vietnam War.

Mr. Navert enjoyed several careers and retired from Kent County as a code enforcement officer.

A man blessed with keen intelligence and many talents, he was also a general contractor, master carpenter and craftsman, and gifted painter. He possessed an endless energy for life, was an avid reader and enjoyed fishing and spending time with his wife in the Outer Banks, N.C.

Mr. Navert"s greatest passion was the founding of Serenity Place, a halfway home for men recovering from the addiction to drugs or alcohol. Located at 327 Martin St., Dover, Serenity Place was the first, and remains the only, treatment facility in Kent County. After addressing his own experience with alcohol addiction, Mr. Navert identified the need for a home-based setting where men could obtain counseling in a structured environment while developing the skills needed to maintain sobriety when they returned to their homes.

Along with his wife, he found the property on Martin Street, completely refurbished it and wrote the grants needed to secure funding and licensure by the state of Delaware. Serenity Place opened it doors in 1990. Largely because of his dedication, his hard work, and endless investment of his own time and often his own money, hundreds of men have gone on to lead lives of successful recovery.

Mr. Navert was steadfast in his love for his family, and the light he brought into their lives with his irrepressible wit, kindness and care will never dim.

He was predeceased by his sister, Sandra McLaughlin.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughters, Jacquelynn Lyons of Wilmington, Jennifer Ford of Bear, and Ann Castle and Karen Trexler, both of Dover; 12 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and his faithful companion, his dog Austin.

A visitation will be 7 to 9 Friday evening in Torbert Funeral Chapel, 61 S. Bradford St., Dover.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the American Cancer Society, 92 Reads Way, Suite 205, New Castle, DE 19720.