John Leedom Scarborough

1947 - 2024

It is with deep sadness that the family of John Leedom Scarborough, 77, of Elkton, MD, announces his passing on August 4, 2024. A lifelong resident of Cecil County, he was one of a kind and will be missed by many.

Born in Elkton on January 6, 1947, John was the son of J. Gifford and Mary Brown Scarborough. He graduated from Elkton High School, where he was a three-sport athlete and three-time All-County basketball player (they did not have All-County in football and baseball at the time). John was considered one of the best (if not the best) high school athletes in Cecil County in 1965.

John was a graduate of Gettysburg College, where he received a partial academic-athletic scholarship and was a member of several honorary societies. He played freshman basketball, but focused on football, where he was a letterman. He was a member of the Gettysburg Football team of 1966 that won the Lambert Cup, symbolizing the best small college in the East.

After college, he taught at Bohemia Manor High School and law clerked for the judges of the Circuit Court for Cecil County while attending law school. Upon passing the Maryland bar exam, John was hired as an Assistant State's Attorney under the tutelage of Judge Donaldson C. Cole, Jr.

John served in the Maryland Army National Guard and was a member of the 29th Division Association. He did basic training at Fort Campbell, KY, and AIT at Fort Lee, VA.

Early in his legal career, John had the fortune of coming under the mentorship of Melvin J. Sykes, one of Maryland's premier lawyers, who taught him how to thoroughly prepare and work up a case for trial. He continued to counsel John throughout the years while in his civil practice on difficult legal matters. While in his solo law practice, John worked frequently with Judge William B. Evans on numerous personal injury cases, including one of the largest medical malpractice verdicts in Harford County at the time.

After "Donnie" Cole became a judge, John was elected State's Attorney for Cecil County in 1982, and was re-elected four times. During that tenure, he handled and tried the most difficult murder, vehicular manslaughter, and serious criminal cases of the period. He had the most murder cases and convictions of any prosecutor in the history of the office of State's Attorney for Cecil County.

John was a member of the Elkton Presbyterian Church, where he served as an Elder, Deacon, Trustee, and lay preacher over the years. He was an avid sportsman and coached his four sons' teams in Little League Baseball and Junior Football for almost 20 years.

John was a supporter of the Special Olympics. He also participated in the Cecil County Ice Splash numerous times, and he volunteered to provide lawn maintenance for people with disabilities. John enjoyed walking, hiking, boating, gardening, and reading. He worked on a crossword puzzle most every day.

John is survived by his four sons, John L. Scarborough, Jr. (Kasi), Edmonds, WA, Todd E. Scarborough (Julie), Boise, ID, Grant G. Scarborough (Niki), North East, MD, and Ross J. Scarborough (Tammy), Elkton, MD; grandchildren, Savanna, Grayson, Kyle, Daisy, Zachary, Chance, Cash, Landon, and Jayde; siblings, Miriam Irwin, Rock Hill, SC, and J. Gifford Scarborough, Jr. (Patricia), Wilmington, DE; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be private. Interment will be at Friends Burial Ground, Calvert, MD.

In his memory, contributions may be made to Special Olympics or Little League Baseball and Softball.

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