John Arbenz Hazlett, 86, formerly of Wheeling, West Virginia, passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at Inova Fairfax Hospital in Fairfax, Virginia.
He was born March 21, 1940, in Wheeling, West Virginia, the son of the late Susan (Arbenz) Hazlett and Robert C. Hazlett, Sr. John was a proud resident of Wheeling for most of his 86 years. He attended Linsly Military Institute, graduating in 1958, before earning his undergraduate degree from Amherst College in Massachusetts in 1962. He went on to earn his J.D. from Columbia Law School in 1965 and his MBA from Columbia Business School in 1966. In 1972, he married his loving wife Marianne (Loftus) Hazlett in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
After beginning his career in New York City as an investment banker, John and Marianne returned to Wheeling to grow their family. There he worked as a banker and eventually went on to co-found the First Commitment Corporation, where he served as president until his retirement.
His two greatest loves were his family and the Wheeling community. Throughout his life, he gave his time and leadership to numerous local institutions. A former member of Wheeling City Council and a longtime Elder at First Presbyterian Church, he was deeply engaged with organizations across the region—including the Twilight Club, Friends of Wheeling, the Ohio Valley Industrial and Business Development Corporation (OVIBDC), the National Trail Council of the Boy Scouts of America, Sons of the American Revolution, The Claude A. & Henrietta H. Vaden Children’s Farm Trust, and the West Virginia State Soccer Association. Drawing on his extensive experience in these roles, he later authored a book on nonprofit leadership and delivered boardsmanship training to nonprofits throughout the state.
John will forever be remembered by his family not only for his love and pride in them, but also as an avid collector of toy soldiers and books, and as a passionate student of Wheeling history, military history, and heraldry. He loved sports, especially WVU basketball, the Steelers, and the Pirates, and he was the memorable and enthusiastic coach of each of his children’s youth soccer teams. A lover of music, he was an impressive jitterbug dancer and never passed up an opportunity for family karaoke. He especially cherished time with his grandchildren, reading, playing board games and doing puzzles, and sharing his passions with them.
In addition to his parents, John was preceded in death by his brother, Bob. He is survived by Marianne Loftus Hazlett, his loving wife of 54 years, and four children: Emily Ford (Andy); John A. Hazlett, Jr. (Liz); Matthew Hazlett (Jessica); and Anne Sherwood (Jim); as well as ten grandchildren, who were the apple of his eye: Sophia, Alexandra, Charlotte, Everett, Amelia, Owen, Benjamin, Madeline, Louisa, and James. He is also survived by three brothers, Jim (Marie), George (Verna), and Tom, and by many loving nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews.
Family and friends will be received at First Presbyterian Church, 1307 Chapline Street, Wheeling, WV 26003, on Saturday, August 1, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. until time of service at 11:00 a.m., with Rev. Margie Carr and Rev. Robert Willits as co-officiants. A private interment will follow at Greenwood Cemetery.
Arrangements by Kepner Funeral Home, 900 National Road, Wheeling, WV 26003 (304-232-2732).
Memorial contributions may be made to The Linsly School, with the Hazlett Family Scholarship fund designated in the memo line, or online at www.linsly.org/giving with the same designation.
