John Malcolm Brock Jr.

1948 - 2023

JOHN MALCOLM BROCK, JR.

March 4, 1948 - March 9, 2023

John Malcolm Brock, Jr., 75, prominent Bakersfield businessman and former President and CEO of the once iconic Brock's Department Store, passed away peacefully at his home on March 9, 2023 following a battle with cancer.

With his beloved wife, Ginette, by his side and surrounded in spirit by family and countless friends, John succumbed to his illness with characteristic grace and dignity, and with the knowledge of how immensely he was loved.

To know John Brock was to know a truly remarkable man. Regarded as highly intelligent and accomplished, yet genuinely humble and kind, John was a man of understated greatness. A true gentleman, John was universally liked by all those who encountered him, and was often referred to as "the nicest man you'll ever meet." With his twinkling eyes and charismatic smile, people were drawn to John's attentiveness and his joyful and easygoing personality, instantly at ease in his presence. As a devoted husband, loving father and grandfather, dear friend, trusted colleague and pillar of the community, John left an indelible impact on the lives of many and will be dearly missed by all those who knew him.

The first of five children, John was born in Bakersfield in 1948 to well-known local business leader John Malcolm Brock, Sr. and Gladys Anderson Brock. From his early days of boyhood, John would "tag along with the stock boys" at Brock's in exchange for free lunch in the store's cafeteria, seemingly solidifying his interest and future in the family business.

John was a standout student and an exceptional golfer from an early age. He attended local schools and spent much of his youth out on the links with his father before graduating from Bakersfield High School with honors in 1966. John then went on to study at Stanford University, where he was affiliated with the Beta Theta Pi fraternity and played on the Stanford mens golf team. He received his Bachelors degree from Stanford in 1970 and following, received his Masters in Business Administration from the University of Southern California in 1974.

Upon completion of his education, John returned to Bakersfield and to Brock's where he worked alongside his father and mentor in various roles over the course of several years, before ultimately being promoted to President and CEO of Brock's in 1980, a position he held until the company was sold to Gottschalks in 1987.

During that time, John married Deborah King in 1975 and together for 25 years, they raised three children: Lauren, Carey, and John III. As a father, John was an exceptional role model who led by example with integrity and kindness. Always calm and cool, John met the demands of fatherhood with his signature laid-back style. He was highly involved in all of the kids' various activities and sports, enjoyed taking family trips to Aptos, Lake Tahoe and Mammoth, and instilled in his children a love for the outdoors, Stanford Football and driving (fast).

Pivoting in his career following the sale of Brock's, John joined Gregory D. Bynum and Associates (now Bynum, Inc.) in 1988 as Vice President of Development, where he began a long and prosperous career in real estate development spanning 35 years and a multitude of projects across Bakersfield. A consummate professional who was well-respected and admired in the business community, John cherished his work, relinquishing his duties only just prior to his passing.

In 2002, John met Ginette Ayotte Mason of Bakersfield, marking the beginning of a new chapter in John's life and an enduring love story. Married in 2004, and together for more than 20 years, John and Ginette's mutual love, appreciation and adoration for each other was evident to all those around them. A perfectly paired couple, they built an incredible, full life together, during which they enjoyed traveling extensively to six of the seven continents, golfing, hiking, attending Stanford Football games, taking trips to Napa and Spring Training in Arizona, enjoying date nights at Mexicali and spending time with their wonderful group of friends. They were incredibly proud of the beautifully blended family they created and treasured the time they spent visiting their four children and five grandchildren across Southern California and Seattle.

John's interests and hobbies were numerous. Aside from the activities he shared with Ginette and his children, John enjoyed running and biking, eventually completing numerous triathlons and the 100th Boston Marathon. He was also an avid reader and the family historian, and spent nearly 50 years meticulously researching and cataloging the details of his family's genealogy, even traveling as far as Sweden in conjunction with these pursuits. John's love for history and gift for writing also led to the publication of a book in 1976 entitled," An Illustrated History of Kern County," featuring a series of 150 cartoon strips John created that integrated the history of Brock's Department Store with the history of Kern County.

A proud lifelong resident of Bakersfield, John loved his hometown and was active in the community for more than 40 years, serving on the boards of directors and advisory councils for numerous local organizations, including the Bakersfield Memorial Hospital Foundation and United Way of Kern County. He was a 45-year member of the Bakersfield Rotary Club, a member of Quest Club for nearly 40 years, a member of the Petroleum Club and Seven Oaks Country Club, and a former member of Bakersfield Country Club. He was also supportive of many charitable and non-profit organizations including the Lori Brock Discovery Center, the Kern Community Foundation and the John Brock Award for Community Service, named for his late father.

John was preceded in death by his parents, John and Gladys Brock, and his sister, Lori Brock, for whom the Lori Brock Discovery Center is named. He is survived by his best friend and wife, Ginette Brock; children, Lauren Marke, Carey (Marcus) Boettcher, and John Brock III; step-daughter, Brooke (Aaron) Peterson; grandchildren, Blair and Brock Boettcher, and Mick, Ozzie and Simone Peterson; brother, Jim (Joan) Brock; sisters, Marti (Edgardo) Mazzeo and Jill (Cary) Kinkle; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

At John's request, no services will be held. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any donations be made to the Lori Brock Discovery Center, 3801 Chester Avenue, Bakersfield, California 93301.

www.bakersfield.com/obits