John Hansen Highby

John Hansen Highby, 81, of Baltimore, Maryland passed away on Friday, January 2, 2026. John was born at Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, D.C. on November 17, 1944. He grew up in Charles County, MD in a home his parents had built adjacent to his maternal grandparents’ home. The Highbys grew their own vegetables and kept animals and chickens. Working on the farm was an integral part of John’s childhood. John was close to his grandparents and would stop at his grandfather’s country store every day after school. He and his family were parishioners at St. John’s Episcopal Chapel in Pomonkey, MD. John attended LaPlata High School where he was an athlete and a musician. He played piano, trumpet, and French horn. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Johns Hopkins University, an associate’s degree in electronic data processing from Charles County Community College, and a master's degree in civil engineering from Howard University. Soon after graduating from Johns Hopkins, John was married. He and his wife lived in Oxon Hill, Maryland. John taught math and chemistry at Prince Georges County Community College. He also worked at the Indian Head Naval Ordinance Station testing experimental rocket fuel. In 1980, John and his wife and daughter moved to Baltimore, and he began working at the Hunt Valley, MD offices of PSC Engineering. He spent the remainder of his career working as an engineer with a focus on design and maintenance of wastewater treatment plants. For the first ten years of residence in Baltimore, John spent most weekends working on the rehabilitation of his home in Guilford. In addition to home improvement, John had many interests including gardening, cooking and baking, golf, photography, cycling, collecting coins and model cars, and performing with the Paint and Powder Club. John served as treasurer for the Baltimore City Chapter of the Sons of the Revolution and for the Robert Long House Museum in Fells Point. John was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He is survived by his wife, Merry Gladding Highby, daughter Amanda Merryman Highby, son-in-law David Edward Butkiewicz, grandchildren Nicholas Alexander Merryman and Jillian Elisabeth Louise Butkiewicz, and brother Richard Ingemann Highby. He is pre-deceased by his parents William Erwin and Sara Louise (Jameson) Highby. John and Merry met at a party given by mutual friends. They were married for 57 years. Their shared interests included designing and maintaining their home and garden, antiquing, going on historic house tours, researching their genealogy, attending social events, dancing, dining at their favorite restaurants, and hosting holidays at their home.

John Hansen Highby

November 17, 1944 - January 2, 2026