John McGinnis

John McGinnis, 77 of Mendon, NY passed peacefully with his family beside him on Wednesday, January 24th. John is survived by his loving wife of 45 years, Kathy, daughter Megan (Jon) Mansfield, son Ryan (Becca) McGinnis and grandchildren Allison, Jack, Matthew, and Clara. He was predeceased by his parents Loretto and George Peterson.

Born and raised in Chicago, IL, he was a proud graduate of Campion Jesuit High School in Prairie Du Chien, WI where he made wonderful lifelong friends. He went on to earn a degree in Pharmacy at the University of Illinois in 1977, followed by a Masters of Business Administration in Finance and Healthcare Administration from Dominican University in 1985. A consummate lifelong learner, he obtained post-graduate certifications from the UCLA Anderson School of Management in the early 90s, a graduate degree in Psychology in 2010, and a certification as a substance abuse and alcohol counselor in 2014.

John met his best friend and love of his life, Kathy, early on in his pharmaceutical career while working at Northwest Hospital in Chicago. This began their lifelong adventure, getting married in 1978, starting a family in 1982, and even moving twice in 1989 to follow pharmacy jobs to New Hampshire and then to Mendon, NY where they fell in love with the area and put down roots.

It was in Mendon in 1994 that John became a volunteer member of the Mendon Fire Department. In his 30 years as a Life Member he became a certified EMT, served as a company officer, line officer, fire police, department secretary, and secretary to the Board of Fire Commissioners. While he was proud of his contributions, what he loved most about the Fire Department was the community. Some of his favorite memories include those with the softball teams, bowling leagues, and golf tournaments over the years. The friends he made there became family, and we are forever grateful for their love and support.

John was a lover of adventure and athletics. Growing up he played neighborhood baseball, High School football, and collegiate hockey. As a young man he rode horses and played on basketball and softball teams with work friends. He continued playing hockey in adult leagues in his 30s and 40s and taught these skills to his kids while rollerblading in the driveway. He enjoyed hiking and exploring with his family over the years, taking RV and tent camping trips to western Canada, around Lake Michigan, and within the Finger Lakes. He loved to ski, which sparked vacations with extended family and friends to the Upper Peninsula in Michigan, multiple ski trips to various states and resorts out West, and weekend family ski days at Bristol Mountain. He also loved his wife's family as his own, and looked forward to annual trips to Chicago to spend time with his in-laws, nieces and nephews, and cousins. For 30 years he cherished the annual family reunion trip to Rhinelander, WI where he enjoyed spending his time golfing, taking the dogs for swims, being outdoors, and sharing laughs. His final adventures over the last two years included summer trips to Canada with his wife, kids, grandchildren, and granddog.

Of all his accomplishments, the one he was most proud of was his family. He was a dedicated and loving husband, father, grandfather, and dog dad. One of his favorite pastimes was traveling with his wife. He loved a long car ride, sightseeing, and just simply spending time with her. The only thing that made these adventures better was having his two beloved Golden Retrievers, Lucy and George, along for the ride. It was a well known fact that John loved dogs more than most people, but these two had an extra special place in his heart. He also enjoyed spending weekends skiing with his kids while they were growing up, and never missed a game or event. When he found out his first grandchild was on the way in 2015, he dropped everything and offered to be the daycare provider. He continued raising his grandkids full-time until he was 75, an impressive feat that he took on with unconditional love.

John was known for his strong will, unwavering love of his family and golden retrievers, and an unmatched, unfiltered sense of humor. He was generous and hard-working, with a secretly soft heart. Clever and overflowing with knowledge gained through all of his life experiences, he will be remembered for all the stories he shared with his friends, family, and willing strangers. An irreplaceable husband, father, and grandpa, he will be missed dearly.

We are beyond grateful for the love everyone has shown for John during this difficult time. To family, friends, classmates, neighbors, co-workers, and the Mendon Fire Department, we express our sincere gratitude.

A Celebration of Life Open House will be held at the Mendon Fire Department Community Room between noon and 4pm on Saturday, February 10th.