John Davern, at his special place.
John Davern, the longest-residing member of the Rochdale Co-op and free-spirited “unofficial mayor of Rudy’s” (at its original location), has died unexpectedly at the age of 58.
The cause of death is not known at this point, according to his sister-in-law, Sandy Davern.
“People knew him as the ‘alternate mayor.’ He was an amazing dude,” said Jason Howze, who became close to Davern while living in Rochdale, a storied democratically-run intentional three-story brick co-op that has been around since 1947.
Howze checked in on Davern in Davern’s third-floor room on Sunday afternoon after friends hadn’t heard from him in days, and discovered him lying dead. He said Davern had been complaining of chest pains on Friday.
The news of Davern’s death saddened people at the Elm Street coop and spread fast throughout New Haven, where Davern was a beloved fixture of the nightlife scene for decades.
“He was a New Haven celebrity. He knew so many people,” said one close friend, Lisa Blumenthal. She recalled how Davern would organize carloads of New Haveners to head up to Charlestown, R.I., to visit the beach.
“He was like the pied piper. We’re really going to miss him.”
Davern always loved the ocean, and would “go swimming and dunk” in it all year round, sister-in-law Sandy recalled.
Davern was born in New York City, and grew up mostly in New Canaan. He came to New Haven in the early 1980s. He never left, falling in love with the city and its people.
He worked at many local businesses over the years, including Fair Haven Woodworks and Atticus. He found his groove at a North Branford-based landscaping company called Natureworks, where he worked as a landscape technician until his death and had become a part-owner along with other employees.
He was a fixture at the old Rudy’s on Elm Street before it moved, and at other clubs and restaurants around town. His older brother Bob, who lives in North Springfield, Vermont, recalled visiting John, a “big jazz fan,” and going out to Firehouse 12 on Crown Street, another of his favorite haunts. The meal kept getting interrupted as people came up to hug him, everyone from the owner to other diners and people passing by.
“Johnny was popular with the cool kids. He was popular with the outcasts. He was like the glue that brought different people together,” Bob said.
Davern moved into Rochdale around 27 years ago, and had lived there longer than anyone else currently residing in the co-op, according to Howze.
Davern was predeceased by his parents, and is survived by his one brother and sister-in-law, who said plans for a memorial will be announced at a later date. Friends are thinking of organizing an event as well. Don’t be surprised if it involves sand and salt water.
