John Thomas Sibley

John T. Sibley, formerly of Meriden, CT, passed away Saturday, February 6, 2021 after a long illness.

He was born November 9, 1949 to the late Robert and Virginia (Vandenburg) Sibley.

He is survived by Matthew Sibley, son from his former marriage to the late Rosemary Galvin and 2 grandchildren. He also leaves behind his beloved cousins, several dear friends and loyal employees.

 He was predeceased by brothers, Gerald Sibley and David Sibley.

John grew up in Meriden, CT where he graduated from F.T. Maloney High School in 1967. He enjoyed many childhood summers with family at Lake Sunapee NH. He loved Connecticut beaches as well as his favorite, Sanibel Island. John had a lifelong passion for nature and preserving the environment. After attending Central Connecticut State University, he moved to Lee County, FL in 1979. Soon after, he began a lawn maintenance business and expanded into landscaping. He opened All Native Garden Center in 2000 specializing in native, drought tolerant plants. He was the native plant expert for the “Florida Landscape” documentary produced by WGCU. He served on the board of The Coccoloba Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society, the Florida Association of Native Nurseries, the Lee County Overall Extension Service Advisory Board and the Lee County Roadway Advisory Committee. John was a master gardener and was very active in several environmentally focused organizations as well as Host for the National Wildlife Federation, Backyard Wildlife Habitat program.

Through his work as President/Owner of All Native Garden Center, he had been involved with projects ranging from Periwinkle Way restoration contract on Sanibel, to DOT landscaping projects, several commercial and private landscape projects and numerous Lee County school plantings, many of which were funded by CHNEP mini grants and Florida Wildflower Foundation grants. John had extended much effort and time to help people involved with those projects to learn as much as possible about the subject and had been very generous in follow-up as required to insure their long-term success. John’s mission and knowledge, which he shared with his staff, will continue, as his legacy.

We anticipate a memorial service when it is safe for us all to gather together.