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John Pinkerton Obituary
John Michael Pinkerton
May 19, 2024
John Michael Pinkerton, 82, passed away on May 19, 2024, with his wife and son at his side. He was a devoted father, grandfather and mentor to countless others fortunate enough to know him. John was preceded in death by his parents Captain Richard and Hazel (Spencer) Pinkerton; and his son, Ben who was taken too soon from this world in 2015. He is survived by his loving wife, Katherine (Shawhan) Pinkerton; his son, John Michael Pinkerton Jr., beloved daughter-in-law, Connie (Capozzola) Pinkerton, and their children, Charlotte, Hamish and James of Savannah, GA; as well as his beloved daughter-in-law, Karla Pinkerton, Ben's widow, and their son, Daniel of Madison, WI. He is also survived by his sisters, Barbara Stephon of Lansing, MI, Margaret Rymer of Prince Frederick, MD and Debbie Pinkerton of San Diego, CA.
John was born in Orange County, CA. The son of a Navy family, he lived in many places growing up, including Madrid, Spain, where he graduated from high school. As a young man he served as an altar boy in the Episcopal Church. John was also an accomplished Boy Scout, having achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.
John enlisted in the United States Marine Corp in 1964 and quickly demonstrated the leadership that distinguished both his career as a Marine and the rest of his professional and family life. In 1966 he received his commission as an officer and was deployed to serve in Vietnam. After almost one and a half harrowing years, the severity of his combat injuries brought him home to recover in Washington, DC. Fortune smiled upon John the very day he was released from the hospital when he met the love of his life, Katherine Shawhan.
Though John was initially ordered to redeploy to Vietnam, he was grateful to receive a last minute change of assignment to San Francisco and was promoted to Captain in early 1968. Shortly after John Jr.'s birth in 1969 John Sr. chose an honorable discharge in 1970 to attend Virginia Tech for his bachelor's and master's degrees. He went on to earn his Ph.D. in finance at the University of Florida. Dr. Pinkerton returned to Blacksburg, VA, in 1977, where he taught for 40 years as a member of the Virginia Tech community. He was active in the local youth soccer program among other community activities. When Dr. Pinkerton retired in 2017 he was honored with the title of SunTrust Professor Emeritus by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors. Pinkerton and his wife, Kathy, split their time between Madison, WI, and Savannah, GA, helping to care for their five grandchildren.
John Pinkerton was many things: a Marine, a scholar, a teacher, a mentor, an art patron, a loyal and dry-witted friend, a sports fan, a reader and a deep thinker. Of all of these lights, the one that shone brightest was John Pinkerton the family man. The love and devotion he had for his wife, children, grandchildren and daughters-in-law is the light they will carry on. He is profoundly missed.
Kathy Pinkerton and family are hosting a Celebration of Life for John Pinkerton Sunday, September 29, 2024, from 1 to 3:30 p.m., Olbrich Gardens Atrium, located at 3330 Atwood Avenue, Madison, WI 53704. Please let Kathy know of your intent to attend the Celebration of Life, either in person or virtually, by filling out this Form: https://tinyurl.com/JMPRSVP.
For those desiring to make a memorial contribution, please consider the UW Health Transplant Center (https://give.wiscmedicine.org/fundraiser/5658254) or the charity of your choice.
Please share your memories at www.cressfuneralservice.com.
Cress Funeral Services
Cress Center - 6021 University Ave. Madison
(608) 238-8406
May 19, 2024
John Michael Pinkerton, 82, passed away on May 19, 2024, with his wife and son at his side. He was a devoted father, grandfather and mentor to countless others fortunate enough to know him. John was preceded in death by his parents Captain Richard and Hazel (Spencer) Pinkerton; and his son, Ben who was taken too soon from this world in 2015. He is survived by his loving wife, Katherine (Shawhan) Pinkerton; his son, John Michael Pinkerton Jr., beloved daughter-in-law, Connie (Capozzola) Pinkerton, and their children, Charlotte, Hamish and James of Savannah, GA; as well as his beloved daughter-in-law, Karla Pinkerton, Ben's widow, and their son, Daniel of Madison, WI. He is also survived by his sisters, Barbara Stephon of Lansing, MI, Margaret Rymer of Prince Frederick, MD and Debbie Pinkerton of San Diego, CA.
John was born in Orange County, CA. The son of a Navy family, he lived in many places growing up, including Madrid, Spain, where he graduated from high school. As a young man he served as an altar boy in the Episcopal Church. John was also an accomplished Boy Scout, having achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.
John enlisted in the United States Marine Corp in 1964 and quickly demonstrated the leadership that distinguished both his career as a Marine and the rest of his professional and family life. In 1966 he received his commission as an officer and was deployed to serve in Vietnam. After almost one and a half harrowing years, the severity of his combat injuries brought him home to recover in Washington, DC. Fortune smiled upon John the very day he was released from the hospital when he met the love of his life, Katherine Shawhan.
Though John was initially ordered to redeploy to Vietnam, he was grateful to receive a last minute change of assignment to San Francisco and was promoted to Captain in early 1968. Shortly after John Jr.'s birth in 1969 John Sr. chose an honorable discharge in 1970 to attend Virginia Tech for his bachelor's and master's degrees. He went on to earn his Ph.D. in finance at the University of Florida. Dr. Pinkerton returned to Blacksburg, VA, in 1977, where he taught for 40 years as a member of the Virginia Tech community. He was active in the local youth soccer program among other community activities. When Dr. Pinkerton retired in 2017 he was honored with the title of SunTrust Professor Emeritus by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors. Pinkerton and his wife, Kathy, split their time between Madison, WI, and Savannah, GA, helping to care for their five grandchildren.
John Pinkerton was many things: a Marine, a scholar, a teacher, a mentor, an art patron, a loyal and dry-witted friend, a sports fan, a reader and a deep thinker. Of all of these lights, the one that shone brightest was John Pinkerton the family man. The love and devotion he had for his wife, children, grandchildren and daughters-in-law is the light they will carry on. He is profoundly missed.
Kathy Pinkerton and family are hosting a Celebration of Life for John Pinkerton Sunday, September 29, 2024, from 1 to 3:30 p.m., Olbrich Gardens Atrium, located at 3330 Atwood Avenue, Madison, WI 53704. Please let Kathy know of your intent to attend the Celebration of Life, either in person or virtually, by filling out this Form: https://tinyurl.com/JMPRSVP.
For those desiring to make a memorial contribution, please consider the UW Health Transplant Center (https://give.wiscmedicine.org/fundraiser/5658254) or the charity of your choice.
Please share your memories at www.cressfuneralservice.com.
Cress Funeral Services
Cress Center - 6021 University Ave. Madison
(608) 238-8406
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Published by Advertiser & Times on Aug. 11, 2024.
Memories and Condolences
for John Pinkerton
Sponsored by Cress Funeral & Cremation Service - Madison - Far West.
2 Entries
Lawrence Bechtel
September 27, 2024
I will remember John carving the turkey and washing the dishes at Pinkerton dinners in their Blacksburg residence; I will remember sitting with him on a summer´s evening by his little fish pond in the backyard; I will remember he and Kathy visiting me in the ICU, bringing cassettes and a cassette player -
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Cress Funeral & Cremation Service - Madison - Far West6021 University Ave, Madison, WI 53705