‘You Could Always Count on Him’: New Canaan Letter Carrier John Beckett Retires After 40 Years

On Thursday, U.S.P.S. letter carrier John Beckett made his final set of deliveries to South Avenue, marking the end of a 40-year career.

Starting with the Stamford Post Office in 1985, Beckett began delivering to New Canaan after the two towns’ post offices merged in 1999. He’s been serving the South Avenue route for the past 13 years.

John Beckett prepares to finish up his last few deliveries on March 27, 2025. Photo/Connor Markey

“I was going to do this until something better came along, and it turned out to be a great job,” Beckett told New Canaanite. “They put a roof over my head, food on the table, I’ve raised the family, and I’ve met people that I never would have met if I hadn’t done this job.”

In a show of appreciation for the time and effort Beckett has spent dutifully serving his route, many residents left thank you notes and balloons on their mailboxes, with some even waiting outside to thank him in person on his final day.

“The people are so incredibly nice,” Beckett said. “Just the many acts of kindness that have been shown to me over the years. I mean, water bottles out in the summertime, and halloween candy, and just the thoughtfulness and general friendliness of everybody has made this a joy. I’ve always tried to do the best job I possibly can, and I take pride in this job. It’s bittersweet leaving.”

After settling into his retirement, Beckett plans to take a long vacation with his wife.

“Three weeks from today, my wife and I are leaving for Europe,” he said. “We’re flying into Portugal, and we’re walking the Camino de Santiago into Spain for 13 days. Then we’re going into France and we’re going on a boat and bike trip. So we’ll be gone for about a month.”

As Beckett was finishing up his last few deliveries on Mead Street, several residents gathering outside for his send-off shared their thoughts on his retirement.

“John has been the most professional or thoughtful person that we’ve ever met,” said Kevin McIntosh of the Laurel Green condo complex. “We’re gonna miss him.”

Jill Ernst said Beckett “always went the extra mile and would bring things up to the door if it was bigger or heavier.”

“You could always count on him,” Ernst said. “There was always a friendly smile and a wave wherever you saw him in town too, because everybody knows him.”

Another resident on his mail route, Jeanne Disturco, said Beckett “feels like he’s part of the family, part of the community.”

“He’s always here, around town walking up and down South,” she said. “We’re really going to miss him.”