Basic Information
| Attribute | John A. Chaffetz (1935–2012) | John Chaffetz (Timberlane Partners) |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | John Allen Chaffetz | John Chaffetz |
| Lifespan | 1935–2012 | Living |
| Primary roles | Businessman; sports investor; author | Real-estate investment principal; firm co-founder |
| Notable family ties | Father of Jason E. Chaffetz (b. 1967); former spouse of Kitty (Dickson) Dukakis (m. 1957–1961); father of John (later John Dukakis, b. 1958) and Alex Chaffetz | Not publicly tied to the Jason Chaffetz family; shares the same name only |
| Known locations | California; Utah | Los Angeles, California |
| Education | Not widely publicized | Harvard graduate |
| Children | John (b. 1958; later John Dukakis), Jason (b. 1967), Alex | Two children |
| Marital/partner notes | Married to Kitty Dickson (1957–1961); later partner/spouse relationships include Jason’s mother Margaret “Peggy” Wood | Not publicly detailed beyond being a father of two |
| Status | Deceased (2012) | Active executive |
| Notable works | Authored Gay Reality: The Team Guido Story | Executive leadership at Timberlane Partners |
| Notable organizations | Los Angeles Aztecs (ownership involvement, late 1970s) | Timberlane Partners; previously Morgan Stanley |
| Ancestry highlights | Son of Maxwell “Max” Chaffetz (1909–1986); family connection to Hammond E. Chaffetz (prominent attorney) | Not publicly linked to the same lineage |
| Public net worth | Not publicly disclosed | Not publicly disclosed |
A Family Name Shared, Two Distinct Biographies
The name John Chaffetz threads through American public life like a braided rope, but it binds two very different careers and storylines.
First, there is John A. Chaffetz (1935–2012), a businessman whose personal life intersected with politics and culture in memorable ways. He married Kitty (Katherine) Dickson in 1957; they had a son in 1958 named John, who would later take the surname Dukakis after Kitty married Michael Dukakis. A decade later, John A. Chaffetz fathered Jason E. Chaffetz (b. 1967), who served as a U.S. Representative from Utah from 2009 to 2017, and later Alex Chaffetz. John A. Chaffetz’s professional footprint included involvement with the ownership group of the Los Angeles Aztecs in the late 1970s and authorship later in life.
Second, there is a contemporary professional also named John Chaffetz: a Los Angeles–based real-estate investor and principal at Timberlane Partners. His résumé spans a Wall Street start (including time at Morgan Stanley) and a pivot to institutional real estate, civic boards, and affordable-housing initiatives. He is a Harvard graduate, a father of two, and a fixture of the region’s investment community. He is not the same person as Jason Chaffetz’s father and is not publicly documented as a relative.
Two names, two arcs—easily conflated in search results, clearly distinct in substance.
Timeline Highlights
| Year/Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1935 | Birth of John A. Chaffetz. |
| 1957–1961 | Marriage of John A. Chaffetz and Kitty (Katherine) Dickson. |
| 1958 | Birth of their son, John (who later becomes John Dukakis by adoption and name change). |
| 1967 | Birth of Jason E. Chaffetz to John A. Chaffetz and Margaret “Peggy” Wood. |
| Late 1970s | John A. Chaffetz involved with Los Angeles Aztecs ownership group. |
| 2009–2017 | Jason E. Chaffetz serves in the U.S. House of Representatives. |
| 2012 | Death of John A. Chaffetz. |
| 2010s–present | John Chaffetz (Timberlane) active as a principal/co-founder in Los Angeles real estate. |
The Dukakis–Chaffetz Connection
Family histories sometimes read like finely tuned clockwork—one movement sets another in motion. The early marriage of John A. Chaffetz and Kitty Dickson (1957–1961) produced a son, John, born in 1958. After Kitty’s marriage to Michael Dukakis, that son was adopted and became John Dukakis, an actor and later music executive. This makes John Dukakis the half-brother of Jason E. Chaffetz; they share a biological father in John A. Chaffetz. The political juxtaposition—Jason’s Republican tenure in Congress and the Dukakis family’s deep Democratic roots—has long intrigued biographers and readers alike.
Careers and Contributions: Business, Sports, and Real Estate
- John A. Chaffetz: His career is best described as entrepreneurial. By the late 1970s, he was involved in the ownership group of the Los Angeles Aztecs, a North American Soccer League team that attracted international talent during the sport’s early American boom. He also authored Gay Reality: The Team Guido Story, reflecting a turn to publishing and cultural commentary later in life. While public profiles characterize him as a businessman active across several ventures, comprehensive financial disclosures are not part of the public record.
- John Chaffetz (Timberlane Partners): In contrast, the living namesake followed a classic finance-to-real-assets path. After early experience at Morgan Stanley, he co-founded or joined Timberlane Partners as a principal, focusing on institutional real estate, acquisitions, and long-term value creation. His professional bio emphasizes leadership in investment strategy, engagement with civic organizations, and family life in Los Angeles. It is a modern executive profile grounded in capital markets, community, and the built environment.
Family Tree Snapshot
| Person | Relationship to John A. Chaffetz | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Maxwell “Max” Chaffetz (1909–1986) | Father | FBI Special Agent; part of the family lineage frequently cited in bios. |
| Hammond E. Chaffetz | Relative (extended) | Prominent attorney associated with national legal circles. |
| Kitty (Katherine) Dickson (later Kitty Dukakis) | Former spouse (1957–1961) | Mother of John (later John Dukakis); later married Michael Dukakis. |
| John Dukakis (b. 1958) | Son (by birth; later adopted by Michael Dukakis) | Actor and record executive; half-brother to Jason E. Chaffetz. |
| Margaret “Peggy” Wood | Partner/spouse (Jason’s mother) | Mother of Jason E. Chaffetz. |
| Jason E. Chaffetz (b. 1967) | Son | U.S. Representative (2009–2017); public figure in Utah and national politics. |
| Alex Chaffetz | Son | Brother of Jason; part of the immediate family circle. |
Note: The living real-estate executive John Chaffetz (Timberlane Partners) is not listed here because he is a different person who merely shares the name.
Frequently Confused? How to Tell Them Apart
- Lifespan vs. Career: John A. Chaffetz lived 1935–2012 and appears in histories tied to the 1950s–1970s; the Timberlane principal is a contemporary executive active today in Los Angeles real estate.
- Family Signposts: References to Jason E. Chaffetz, Kitty Dukakis, or John Dukakis almost always indicate John A. Chaffetz. References to Timberlane Partners or Morgan Stanley indicate the living executive.
- Sector Cues: Sports ownership and a published book point to John A. Chaffetz; institutional real estate, affordable housing talks, and firm leadership point to the Timberlane principal.
FAQ
Who is John A. Chaffetz?
He was a businessman (1935–2012), father of Jason E. Chaffetz, and early spouse of Kitty (Dickson) Dukakis.
Who is the living John Chaffetz at Timberlane Partners?
He is a Los Angeles–based real-estate investment principal and firm co-founder with a Wall Street background.
Are the two John Chaffetz individuals related?
There is no public documentation linking the Timberlane executive to the Jason Chaffetz family beyond the shared name.
How is Kitty Dukakis connected to the name John Chaffetz?
She married John A. Chaffetz in 1957; their son, born in 1958, later became John Dukakis.
Who is John Dukakis?
He is the son of Kitty and John A. Chaffetz, later adopted by Michael Dukakis, and worked in acting and the music industry.
Yes, Jason is the half-brother of John Dukakis through their shared father, John A. Chaffetz.
What did John A. Chaffetz do professionally?
He was an entrepreneur involved with the Los Angeles Aztecs in the late 1970s and authored a book later in life.
Does the Timberlane Partners John Chaffetz have children?
Yes, his public bio notes he is a father of two.
What is known about their net worth?
Neither individual has a reliable public net-worth estimate.
When did John A. Chaffetz die?
He died in 2012.
Where is the Timberlane Partners John Chaffetz based?
He is based in Los Angeles, California.
Did John A. Chaffetz have children besides John (Dukakis)?
Yes, he is also the father of Jason E. Chaffetz (b. 1967) and Alex Chaffetz.
Are there notable ancestors in the Chaffetz line?
Yes, Maxwell “Max” Chaffetz was an FBI agent, and Hammond E. Chaffetz was a prominent attorney.
