JONATHAN DELF

Messages of Condolence

• Sincere condolences to you all.
  Philip Liz & family.

  Philip Rowlandson – 18th June 2026

• I was a colleague of Jon’s for 16 years at Liverpool Hope and he was a great help and inspiration. He constructed computer formulae and spreadsheets for me. He always had time to help and introduced me to digital photography from which I have never looked back. We’ll all miss you. Let’s hope there are plenty of bugs in heaven!

  Jim Moore – 18th June 2026

• Sending heartfelt love and sympathy to you all. Xx

  Helen Sutton – 18th June 2026

• Sending our love and sincerest condolences to you all. We’ve very fond memories of Jon over the many years as neighbours. Thinking of you all. Amanda, Chris, Nick, Michael and all the family. xxxxx

  Amanda Cridland – 18th June 2026

• Simpley…A good human who taught me respect for insects and will be sorely missed around Tilston. 14th June will forever be ‘Insect Day’ for our family and we will always do something to encourage more bugs into our gardens.

  The Buckeridges – 18th June 2026

• My research on moth polymorphisms benefitted greatly from Jon’s expertise in where to find and rear particular species, which he generously extended to my students and anyone interested. We also shared the habit of occasionally travelling with insects in our bags. He was not one for short conversations, ideally over a decent pint. You are sorely missed.

  ILIK SACCHERI – 18th June 2026

• I worked with Jon at Liverpool Hope University, where he shared so much of his knowledge of GIS with me. I’ll always remember his generosity—not only in teaching, but also in the way he passed on his older computer equipment as he upgraded, which helped me enormously. I also had the pleasure of looking after his various pets while he was away—everything from insects to silk moth larvae—which spoke to his wonderfully unique character.
  The world feels diminished by his loss, but I feel truly fortunate to have known him and to have learned from him.

  Stephen McKinnell – 19th June 2026

• I always enjoyed talking with Jon after research seminars at Liverpool University, the two of us triangulating between orange-tip butterflies (my research interest), stick insects and the whole world of entomology in general. He had deep practical knowledge of rearing insects, and of course a scholarly understanding of them as well. My sincere condolences to his family and friends.

  James Davies – 19th June 2026

• All our love to you Julie, Oliver, Henry, Laurie and Fred. It was a pleasure knowing Jon, he has left an incredible legacy. Love Linda, Tim & Finn xx

  Linda – 20th June 2026

• So sorry to hear your sad news Julie. Sending much love xx
  

  Janice Heath – 20th June 2026

• I’m so sorry to hear of the loss of Jon. To me he was a special ‘go-to’ expert on orthoptera (grasshoppers and crickets), he was generous with his expertise and I learned so much from him. He even came to Derby, together with Fred, for our bush cricket hunt days at our local nature reserve.
  Sincere condolences to the family.
  

  Felicity Jackson – 21st June 2026

• Sad news! But Jon will always be in my mind and heart. Wonderful colleague! Wonderful memories from fieldrips in Romania at Orsova!

  Daniela Dumbraveanu – 21st June 2026

• So sorry to hear this desperately sad news. Sincere condolences to the family.
  My abiding image of Jon will be of him joining all at great summer gatherings in the grounds of that very special Delf family place, Hartley Woods, and of his warmth and ability to engage and share his inspiring enthusiasm for nature. It‘s not every day you go to a party where someone has carefully brought along a member of the Orthoptera family to join in, to the fascination of all!
  A really lovely guy, whose life has so enriched those around him, a great legacy indeed.

  Don and zGillian and family in Edinburgh – 22nd June 2026