John Cheever Obituary

John David Cheever, age 50, passed away at his home after a brave three year battle with primary brain cancer. John was a Director at SRAM Corporation for 25 years. He held many titles there and had an incredible, unique career with his SRAM Family. He is either directly responsible for or has contributed significantly to a long list of SRAM patents. John loved to fish, boat, ride vintage motorcycles, work in his machine shop, play guitar, and watch the sunsets disappear. John is preceded in death by Dorothy (Blume) Cheever, Fred Cheever, Roman Sendera, Mary Jinkinson, and his beloved dog Winston. He is survived by his wife Janice (Sendera) Cheever, parents Thomas and Carol Cheever, and his siblings Thomas, Caryn, and Carey (Udziela) Cheever. I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to Dr. Jeffery J. Raizer, Dr. James P. Chandler, Dr. MaryAnne H. Marymont, and all the faculty and staff at the Northwestern Brain Tumor Institute for the care they had given John. I will also be forever grateful to the Cancer Support Center for the help they have given John and I throughout this journey. A celebration of John's life will be held in Illinois sometime in the spring. Memorial contributions may be made to The Cancer Support Center www.cancersupportcenter.org (708) 798-9171, Northwestern Brain Tumor Institute www.braintumorinstitute.org, or World Bicycle Relief www.worldbicyclerelief.org/donate in John's memory.

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Published by Chicago Tribune on Mar. 12, 2014.

Memories and Condolences
for John Cheever

12 Entries

uffe veilberg

January 2, 2019

my compassion for John Cheevers death to his closest, and others who valued him, for his kind-heartedness in contact, and his great ability and insight into complicated technique, easy to talk to, honest. With sorrow he is missed. business relationship Uffe Veilberg invents Denmark

Michelle Rachunas-Kosek

March 24, 2014

My mom (Ruth Windle) and I are very sorry for your loss. Even though we have drifted apart and it's been many many years, I still remember some great times growing up at the Cheever household and John's influence. I remembered he loved bikes and was always so nice to me! And that cool retro kitchen!!! I cannot imagine the pain you are all going thru but please know that we are praying that you find God's peace!

David Montague

March 21, 2014

John was a sincere and caring man who was a pleasure to work with and I am sure had a tremendous influence on the products and patents he worked on. I often saw him at the trade shows examining products for potential infringement and coming up with ideas for new ones. It is very sad that such a innovative and sincere guy is lost at such a young age.

Geoffrey Davis

March 17, 2014

So sorry to read about this - so sorry - what a great man!!

Erik

March 15, 2014

Your hard work and passion made my life better. Thank you so much. - Erik

Chris Wickliffe

March 15, 2014

My thoughts go out to the Cheever family and all his friends. I didn't know John well but wish I had. I met John at my first Interbike in 2001 in Las Vegas and met him each year thereafter at my WickWerks booth. He invited me to the SRAM headquarters after the 2001 Interbike to look over my FD prototype, I guess it caught his eye. My Father came with me to Chicago and I'll never forget the kindness he showed my dad who had been fighting colon cancer for two years, he passed a year later in Oct. 2002. John was always very kind to me at every Interbike and I thoroughly enjoyed talking shifting with him. He was a brilliant mind indeed and an honest man with a heart of gold. Besides my dad he is one of the main inspirations that have kept me going on my quest to improve the front shifting of bicycles, he said several times to keep at it and never give up. He inspired me then and he still does now. I'll miss seeing him at Interbike and will certainly always remember him dearly for the rest of my life.
Chris

Kent Solberg

March 14, 2014

I remember a pre-concept "beerstorming" with John that led to the brake and shift axis angles in the SRAM road product. Just a pick up conversation after a sales meeting... I think of that thoughtful, dedicated reflection when anything was put in front of him.

What a loss.

Lori Amendola-Weir

March 12, 2014

John was one of the smartest people I've known and one of the funniest too. I will miss a lot of things about John but I think I will miss his wisdom and his humor most! My thoughts and prayers are with Janice, Tom & Carol and all the Cheever and Sendera Families! Love, Lori

L G

March 12, 2014

Dear Cheever family so sorry for your loss draw close to god and he will draw close to you . James 4:8 .

Carrie

March 12, 2014

My heart goes out to John's family. May you find comfort at this difficult time.

Marie

March 12, 2014

My condolences to the family hope you find peace in knowing, the Father of tender mercies comforts us in all our trials.

March 12, 2014

I will miss the cleverness of John the most. I will also miss singing harmonies and playing in a band with him. This is just a small portion of things that will be missed about John. Love Gail

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