John R. Berry

1939 - 2015

John R. Berry

Virginia Beach - John R. Berry, 76, of Virginia Beach, VA died on May 9, 2015 of lymphoma of the brain. He was born in Chillicothe, OH to Merrill and Marjorie Bennett Berry in 1939. He graduated from Chillicothe High School in 1957, attended Ohio University in Athens until his mother's death required him to return home to care for his disabled father, and later transferred to the University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music where he graduated with a BA in Fine Arts in 1962.

John announced for radio stations in Athens and Chillicothe, and for a television station in Cincinnati. He served in the U.S. Army, with active duty at Fort Knox and reserve duty in Cincinnati and Los Angeles. He was honorably discharged as a sergeant.

His 33-year career with The Hartford Insurance Group included working with supervisors and management of insured companies to reduce injuries and consequent claims, and creating and executing training seminars and workshops. He retired from The Hartford as Director of Training of the Loss Control Division in 1998.

John's interests in retirement included a wide variety of continuing education classes, acting in Sun City Hilton Head theater productions, exploring the Blue Ridge Mountains, reading non-fiction, playing the nickel slots in Atlantic City, and involvement in various church ministries.

He is survived by his wife and best friend, Fran McLean, whom he married in 1990, and his children: Laura Downs, her husband Doug, and their sons Justin and Curtis of Huntersville, NC; and Michael Berry, his wife Kate, and their children Sean, Erin and Ryan of Galloway, OH.

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, May 19 at 2 pm in the chapel of First Presbyterian Church of Virginia Beach, 300 36th Street (23451). Contributions in John's memory may be sent to the church for the "Columbarium Fund" or for the Men's Breakfast and Bible Study's "Helping Hands."