John D. King

Remsen, NY: John David King of Remsen passed unexpectedly on or about October 27, in peace and at home. Born May 3, 1951, in New York City, John was the eldest of George and Eleanor King’s two sons, both of whom were raised in Middletown, CT. George King was Director of Communications for Aetna Insurance; Eleanor King was a beloved reading teacher in the local schools. An avid guitarist and comic artist from a very young age, John—JD to his friends—moved to the then-barren Tribeca area of Manhattan in the early 1970s and began his ultimately successful practice of collaborating with other artists and musicians before launching his career as a cartoonist and illustrator. The city brought out JD King’s adventurous side, inspiring him to form an experimental rock band, The Coachmen, that is still esteemed by fans of the downtown scene. Always neat and tailored, John was hard to miss as he traversed the less-inviting streets of Lower Manhattan, on his way to a gig, an interview, or an evening with friends—the tallest illustrator in New York.

With his early marriage to the artist Jane Brettschneider ending in divorce, John’s work kept him in the city until he met the artist and journalist Sally Eckhoff at The Village Voice, the weekly newspaper where they both worked. Together the couple moved north to Columbia County, near Albany, and began their embrace of country life. With an electric guitar always nearby, John adapted quickly to the slower pace of the Hudson Valley, executing drawings that were increasingly assigned by phone, fax, and finally, the internet. Because neglected cats roamed free in their neighborhood, John added to his menagerie of one by fostering (and adopting) a small herd of needy kittens. An avid runner, John could be seen pacing the hilly one-lane roads of Stuyvesant Falls, seemingly inexhaustible, and always adroit and unhurried. It was here he began the series of short stories that were later published as a blog, much to the delight of his long-lost friends in New York, who rarely saw him now that his transition to country dweller was complete. As citified as he appeared, John King was so enchanted by Upstate New York that he never left.

John’s second marriage foundered—sad tidings for Hudson and Kinderhook, NY, but good news for us. His move to Remsen spelled the final and possibly most spiritual chapter of his life, and he found peace in the natural beauty in Oneida County. Always worshipful, he let his friends and family know that finding the Abundant Life Church was the homecoming he had always sought. He treasured his neighborhood friends. We will all miss him—his quirky sense of humor, his heartbreaking smile, his modesty, and the utter clarity of his kindness.

He is survived by his younger brother, Peter, a Manhattan designer who has consulted for a Manhattan architectural firm for 35 years. He is also mourned by his former (second) wife Sally Eckhoff, a close friend and supporter, as well as legions of friends and admirers in New York and beyond—and his one remaining cat, Alex, who is now in Sally’s care.

A memorial gathering will be held in the Abundant Life Church in Boonville, 12644 State Route 12, at 12:30, Saturday December 13 Pastor Brandon Pitts presiding. A light lunch will follow the ceremony. All are invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, friends are encouraged to donate to the Church’s development fund.