John Morrison Vivian

1935 - 2022

John Morrison Vivian

South Hadley, MA — John Morrison Vivian, 86, passed away on Thursday, March 17, 2022, in South Hadley, MA. He was born March 27, 1935, to Arthur Morrison and Katherine Marie (Goodwin) Vivian. John was a United States Marine Corps veteran and earned his MBA from Harvard University. He worked for Towers, Perrin, Forster & Crosby (now Willis Towers Watson) and briefly lived in Belgium as a consultant. Realizing that the corporate life was not his chosen path, John followed his ambition to become an author. As a proponent of self-sufficiency, he naturally gravitated to the back-to-the-land movement of the 1970s, resulting in some of his most popular publications: The Manual of Practical Homesteading, Wood Heat, and Building Stone Walls. A talented wordsmith, John had most recently been a long-time contributing author and editor for Mother Earth News magazine when he retired in 2001. He was intelligent, charismatic, and rebellious, with a constant glint in his eye and a colorful tale ready to be told. John had a passion for many things in life, including conserving the natural world, rural living, and anything involving boats and the ocean. Kennebunkport, Maine held a special place in his heart. John was predeceased by his parents; stepmother, Anne (Crist née Harris); and beloved younger sister, Sarah Beth "Sally" Vivian. John is survived by his former wife, Helen (Alton Sprague); son, Samuel (Jharana); daughter, Martha; niece, Jody (Bruce) Hamm; two granddaughters; and many other loved ones. Services will be private. Those wishing to honor John's memory are encouraged to fully embrace all the adventures life has to offer. Memorial guestbook at www.douglassfuneral.com