John B. Leite

John Batista Leite, 76, died unexpectedly on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at the Boston Medical Center - South, in Brockton. John was born in San Francisco, CA, to the late Ernesto Roderick Leite and Maria dos Santos (Martins) Leite. He was raised in Fairhaven, MA, and graduated from Fairhaven High School. He went on to earn his undergraduate degree from UMass Dartmouth and later earned his Master of Education from Boston University. In 1981, John married Maria José Duarte, and together they spent nearly 45 years married. In 1987 they settled in Stoughton where they raised their children.

For nearly 30 years, John worked as a teacher in the Boston Public Schools, spending most of his career at the Dearborn Middle School in Roxbury. He took immense pride in teaching and helping to shape his students' minds and futures, and he enjoyed the daily interactions with them and his fellow teachers. He was active in several committees and publications dedicated to promoting Cape Verdean literature, culture, and history, most notably as co-founder and contributor to the literary magazine Arquipélago. In his retirement, he enjoyed traveling with his wife, winters in Miami, and spending time with his family.

John is survived by his beloved wife, Maria José (Duarte) Leite of Stoughton, and his children, April J. Leite and her husband, Kevin Cross of NY, Rosilena L. Tarver and her husband, Mitchell of CA, and David R. D. Leite and his wife, Indira of Dorchester. He was the beloved grandfather of Marcus Tarver, Maria Renée Tarver, Tej Inácia Leite, and Solana Maria Leite. He is also survived by his sister, Sandra Burgo of Fairhaven.

Visitation will be held at the Farley Funeral Home, 358 Park Street (Rt. 27), Stoughton, on Friday March 6th from 4-7 PM. Funeral will be held the next day, Saturday March 7th at 9:15 AM, followed by a Funeral Mass at 10:30 AM at Immaculate Conception Church in Stoughton. Burial will be held at Evergreen Cemetery in Stoughton. Donations in John’s memory may be made to the Epilepsy Foundation of New England.