John George Loehr

Corrales - John George Loehr, also known as Jack, passed away on September 27, 2025, at the age of 84, at his Corrales, New Mexico home. He was born in New York City on September 20, 1941, and spent his childhood in Yonkers, NY, before moving to Farmington, NM, at age 12.

He is predeceased by his parents, John Francis Loehr and Gertrude Alma Sweetman Loehr Thomas, step-parents Nell Bates and William Francis Thomas, brother New York Supreme Court Justice Gerald Edward Loehr, uncle George Morgan Sweetman, aunt Mary Jane Sweetman Ryan, and wife Sally Christine Margaret Martin.

He is survived by his wife of 20 years, Margaret "Meg" Evans Keen of Corrales, NM; children Lee Anna of Corrales, NM; Joseph (Kellie) of Leander, TX; Edward (Jane) of Boulder, CO; Sarah Weaver of Farmington, NM; and Rita Kemm Baca of Rio Communities, NM; 15 grandchildren (Lucy, Gabriel, Jessie, Emilie, Abigail, Olivia, Jonathan, Ellen, Josh, Sadie, Wyatt, Dylan, Destiny, Sharla, and Beth) and 2 great-grandchildren (Weston and Adonis); sisters Cynthia of Bozeman, MT, and Deborah of Farmington; nephew Nicholas; former wives Delores "Dee" Duboise of Farmington, and Jennifer Pruett of Albuquerque, NM.

He remained close to his extended New York family throughout his life. He is survived by his sister-in-law Susan Del Guidice Newman Loehr, former sister-in-law Jean Marie Gartner, aunt Marthalee Sweetman, cousins Patricia Barnard and Jo Ann Hill, nephews Peter Loehr (Tina Shi), Gerald Loehr Jr. (Whitney), and Jonathan Newman (Michelle), nieces Janine Barbanell, Melissa Loehr, and Cariana (Tim) Bulman, and many great-nephews and great-nieces.

John graduated from Farmington High School in 1959, where he played varsity baseball and football. He earned his B.A. in Sociology at New Mexico Highlands University in 1964. John fell into education and business management, taking him all over the US and abroad. Some of his accomplishments were at Westinghouse Behavioral Research Lab, co-founding Independent Learning School in San Rafael, CA, being hired as the first Superintendent of Education at Alamo Navajo School in NM, followed by starting his business consulting at Proudfoot, leading to forming JLoehr Associates, whose clients included British Airways and the London Underground. After retiring, he served as Trustee of the United World College of the American West in NM, had three appointments as Regent of his alma mater, and served on the State of New Mexico Commission on Higher Education and the State Board of Finance.

He was an adventurer-extraordinaire, having rafted the Yukon from the source to the mouth in 1963 and many tamer rivers over his lifetime. Known for his sharp mind, wit, and humor, he maintained friendships across the decades, the continent, and the ocean. He read incessantly and was an expert on history and politics. He had a beautiful tenor voice and valued his many years singing with the New Mexico Highlands University choirs. He loved all things boat, plane, train, automobile, motorcycle, bicycle, and baseball. He was a pilot and raced his cars and motorcycles. He delighted in fine automobiles and liked to refurbish old cars and bikes. John was an avid high-altitude cyclist for the last 30 years before being sidelined by an evacuation injury in 2022.

A Memorial Gathering for family and friends will be held at the family home in Corrales, NM, on November 8. Please contact loehr.jla@gmail.com, if you would like to attend.