John Charles Corrough

John Charles Corrough, born May 8, 1940, in Detroit, Michigan, passed away peacefully on March 13, 2026, in Newport Beach, California. He was the son of Clifford John Corrough and Effie Mae Turner Corrough.
In 1948, his family moved to Belleville, Illinois, where both of his parents were educators. His mother, Effie Mae, served as the head of the music department for the school district, instilling in John a lifelong appreciation for learning, discipline, and the arts.
John graduated from Belleville Township High School in 1958. He attended Grinnell College for one year before transferring, in 1959, to Washington University in St. Louis, where he pursued a degree in architecture. After completing his degree, he joined the Peace Corps in 1964 and was stationed in Bizerte, Tunisia. There, he practiced architecture and urban planning for two years. He embraced the experience fully, traveling throughout the region and riding his Triumph motorcycle across Algeria—an early reflection of his adventurous spirit.
Upon returning to the United States in 1966, John continued his studies at Washington University, enrolling in the master’s program in urban planning. During this time in St. Louis, he met the love of his life, Mary Edna Fortner. They were married on September 7, 1968, at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach, California, beginning a 57-year marriage built on love, partnership, and shared adventure.
John began his professional career with Victor Gruen Architectural Associates from 1967 to 1970. His passion for thoughtful design and planning extended beyond his work into his personal life. Alongside friends, he co-owned an Ericson 36 sailboat named Sunshine, beginning decades of sailing along the Southern California coast and to Catalina Island with family and friends—a tradition that continued for over fifty years.
In 1970, John and Mary welcomed their first child, John Colin Corrough, while living in Village Green in Baldwin Hills, California. That same year marked the beginning of a lifelong passion for sailboat racing. Over the next 40+ years, John competed in numerous racing series, including the Newport to Ensenada race, Channel Islands and Catalina Island races, and the 66 Series off Newport Beach. Sailing was an integral part of John’s life, and he shared that passion with his family throughout his life.
In 1973, they purchased a home in Rancho Palos Verdes, where they enjoyed sweeping views of Catalina Island and the Pacific Ocean. In 1976, their family grew with the arrival of twins, Shannon Mary and Dana Hugh Corrough, completing a close-knit and active family life filled with summers sailing and winters skiing in California and Colorado.
In 1974, John joined EDAW, an architecture and urban planning firm in Orange County, where he continued to build a distinguished career. In 1984, he served as part of the planning and design team for the Los Angeles Olympic Games, contributing to the design of the Olympic rowing center—an achievement that reflected both his professional excellence and civic contribution. While at EDAW, John was also a key contributor to the planning, design, and development of both the land- and waterside elements of Cabrillo Marina in Los Angeles.
In 1987, John founded The Corrough Consulting Group, where he specialized in marina and waterfront design. Over the following decades, his work spanned the globe, including projects in Brazil, Singapore, and Japan. He also played a key role in consulting on and rebuilding marinas following Hurricane Katrina in the mid-2000s. John also served as a consultant for the Port of Los Angeles for several years, where he advised on key projects such as the redesign and development of the Alameda Corridor.
In 1996, John and Mary moved to Balboa Island in Newport Beach, where he continued his consulting work and deepened his involvement in the local community. From 2002 to 2010, he served as a Harbor Commissioner in Newport Harbor and remained a trusted advisor to the City of Newport Beach on federal waterway and harbor planning issues for many years.
One of his final and most meaningful projects was the completion of Marina Park on the Balboa Peninsula in 2015. His name is permanently recognized on a plaque within the main building, honoring his lasting contributions to the waterfront he loved.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, John lived a full and joyful life. He loved traveling with his family throughout Europe, Asia, and the United States. He was an avid reader with a deep appreciation for history and science fiction, and he enjoyed films and quiet, meaningful time with his beloved wife, Mary.
John is survived by his wife, Mary Edna Corrough; his children, John Colin Corrough, Shannon Mary Corrough, and Dana Hugh Corrough; and his granddaughter, Eleanor Comstock Corrough.
He will be remembered as a devoted husband, a loving father and grandfather, a respected professional, and a man whose curiosity, integrity, and sense of adventure shaped a life well lived.
He would be delighted in helping young new sailors and ocean lovers. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The Friends of Newport Sea Base/Scouting of America In memory of John Charles Corrough.