John Adam Kowalko Jr.

Retired State Representative John Adam Kowalko Jr., age 80, of Newark, Delaware passed away on October 25, 2025. He was born September 17, 1945, in Portsmouth, Virginia, and raised in Philadelphia by his parents—Adele and John Kowalko Sr., a 24-year career Marine who fought in two wars. He graduated from St. Joseph’s Prep in 1963, and then apprenticed as a machinist at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, where he was a member of LL687 IAM. He was eventually elected to the offices of Treasurer and Recording Secretary, and he also served as Chief Steward of the Metal Trades Council, a coalition of various trade unions at the Shipyard. He was employed at Delaware City Refinery from 1978 to 2004 as a member of LL648 IAM, where he held the positions of Machinist Steward and General Foreman Machinist.

John met his future wife, Connie, while bartending in Philadelphia. They began their life together in a large eclectic group of West Philly natives, students and transplants, many of whom remained lifelong friends. After moving to Delaware in 1983, John became more active in his quest for social justice. He wrote for the Community Advisory Editorial Board for The News Journal for two years, and his regular columns stirred his passion for both writing and activism. He became a member of the 25th RD and began participating in liberal activist causes and groups, including Alliance for Health Care Reform, Delaware Coalition for Health Care NOW, A. Philip Randolph Institute, Common Cause of Delaware, Pacem in Terris, SURJ (Stand Up for What’s Right and Just), and ACORN. John was one of the founding members of the Progressive Democrats for Delaware. He founded Citizens for Legislative Accountability in 2003 and began lobbying for causes in Dover. When the 25th District needed someone to represent Democrats in the 2004 election, John volunteered to run against a ten-year incumbent. Although his first run was unsuccessful, his dedication to community activism over the next two years ensured a solid victory against his Republican opponent in 2006.

While John spent much of his adult life as a journeyman machinist, he found himself in politics. Throughout his 16 years in office, John consistently won his elections by large margins with strong bipartisan support. John believed a State Representative represents everyone in his State, and his constituents knew him as the State Representative who would get things done. They knew they could count on him and could reach him at any time on his personal cell phone. He truly valued his role serving the public good as a State Representative. John never bowed to political pressure and continued to fight for his convictions and take on party leadership when it stood in the way of what was best for the citizens of Delaware.

John’s breadth of knowledge allowed him to impact a wide range of issues. From his role as an intervener in Delmarva rate cases, to taking a stand against the proposed power plant in Newark, pressuring for more transparency in government, fighting for union rights and state workers, putting a hold on excessive lobbying influence, drafting his own budgets and tax proposals to bring equity for ordinary Delawareans, protecting the environment and pushing for offshore wind power, and promoting equity in public school education on behalf of parents and children, John did not relent. He stood strong and stayed the course, challenging the orthodoxy of politics as usual and relentlessly fighting for the interests of all Delawareans.

As a result, John became one of the most influential legislators in Dover. His ideas of fair play and equitable funding spread through Dover and the public. His bills stirred the waters and forced change. John has been asked to speak on panels not just in his own District but across the State. Legislators from other states worked on bills with him. The British government invited him to England to collaborate on wind power issues. His fight against corporate welfare and corporate secrecy attracted the attention of international news organizations, and his efforts were referenced in author Hal Weitzman’s book, What’s the Matter with Delaware?: How the First State Has Favored the Rich, Powerful, and Criminal―and How It Costs Us All.

After retiring from the Delaware House of Representatives, John co-founded RISE Delaware, a group dedicated to preserving the health benefits of state workers and broadcasting the dangers of privatized Medicare Advantage plans. He continued to rally with other retirees and lobby his old colleagues in Dover. One of his greatest achievements in retirement was his continued advocacy for the establishment of a Delaware Office of the Inspector General, which he had first worked on in 2007 and was finally signed into law in 2025.

John was immensely proud of all he was able to accomplish as a politician; however, his biggest source of pride was his wife and children. He was constantly amazed that he had these three people in his life. He was our greatest cheerleader, coaching track and soccer, never missing a cross country meet, showing guests our house and the carpentry work that Connie did. When John and Johanna decided on their careers, he could not contain his pride. The love he showed to all of us and to Jeff and grandchildren Claire and Ben will continue to buoy us through our days.

John is survived by his wife, Connie Merlet, daughter Johanna Kowalko and Jeff Trimarchi of Allentown PA, son John Kowalko of Baltimore MD, and grandchildren Claire and Ben Trimarchi, two brothers, Joseph and Steven Kowalko, and many cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Adele Kowalko, and brother Leonard Kowalko.

A visitation will be held for John from 12 pm until 2 pm on Sunday, November 2, 2025, at Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, 121 W. Park Place, Newark, DE, followed by a reception. A second visitation will be held at 10 am on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, at Holy Angels Catholic Parish, 82 Possum Park Road, Newark, DE, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11 am.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Autism Delaware, or to the Delaware Food Bank, or the charity of your choice.