John McLaughlin

John Charles McLaughlin, 66, of Los Angeles, CA, died tragically on Saturday, February 22, 2025, following a bicycle accident on Pacific Coast Highway. Born on January 12, 1959, in Morristown, New Jersey, John's life was marked by kindness, intellectual curiosity, athletic dedication, and a deep devotion to his family and friends.

John's early years were spent in Hackettstown, NJ, before his family moved to Caldwell, Idaho, where he attended grade school and Jefferson Junior High School. His keen interest in science and mathematics was evident from a young age, as he engaged in electronic projects and built numerous science projects. During his junior high years, he was on the wrestling team and a powerful diver. He attended Caldwell High School and Borah High School before graduating from El Modena High School in Orange, California in 1977. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the University of California, Irvine in 1981, followed by a Master's degree and a Ph.D. from New York University in 1986.

John started working as soon as it was legal. His first jobs included working at the bowling alley that his dad managed and delivering newspapers in the freezing cold in the mornings in Idaho. After earning his doctorate, John embarked on a pioneering career in computer animation, contributing to groundbreaking videos and films at Metrolight Studios, Digital Domain, and Sony Pictures Imageworks. The films he worked on include, "Total Recall," "True Lies," "Apollo 13," "Stuart Little," "City of Angels," and more. He later transitioned to software development consulting and engineering management.

John was a loving husband to Marilyn Henkus McLaughlin, whom he married on September 10th, 1995. Together they raised their twin daughters, Hana and Talia (b. 1997), in Los Angeles, California. He was a devoted father and cherished the time spent with his daughters.

A passionate endurance athlete, John was known for his competitive spirit and love for long, challenging bicycle rides. In 2023 alone, he logged 4,081 miles with 296,233 feet of elevation gain, and completed 441 hours of training and racing. He was a member of the Los Angeles Tri Club and an avid triathlete. His most recent accomplishment was completing the Waco half IronMan in October of 2024.

He was predeceased by his parents, Dorothy Jean Kreger McLaughlin (d. 2005) and Hugh Joseph McLaughlin (d. 2024).

He is survived by his wife, Marilyn Henkus McLaughlin; his daughters, Hana Rebecca Henkus McLaughlin and Talia Isabella Henkus McLaughlin; his siblings, Hugh Joseph McLaughlin, Jr. , Robert Anthony McLaughlin, David Kenneth McLaughlin, Paul Michael McLaughlin, Kelly Christopher McLaughlin, and Heather Ann McLaughlin.

John will be remembered for his brilliance, unwavering kindness, competitive spirit, loyalty, and deep love for his family and friends.