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John Watson Obituary
Born July 16, 1966 in Detroit, Mich., he was the son of Dr. John G. and Dr. Suzanne Carr Watson. On July 1, 1995 in Lakeport, Mich., he married Leslie Ann Raymore, who survives.
A native of Franklinville, Dr. John J. Watson graduated from Archbishop Walsh High School in Olean.
He earned his bachelor's degree in business administration from Bucknell University in 1988 and his master's in business administration from Bucknell University in 1989. He earned his Ph.D. in marketing in 1996 from Penn State, where he was a graduate assistant in the Department of Marketing.
Watson played basketball at Bucknell and spent two years after college, 1989 to 1991, playing professionally in Ireland and England. He was also a former coach, owner and president of the Canterbury Rams in the New Zealand National Basketball League and was named Coach of the Year in 2002.
Watson was a former assistant and associate professor in the Department of Management at The University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand, from 1996 to 2008. He was highly involved with students at Canterbury, where he founded the Business and Sport Management Society, chaired the International Student Exchange Committee and served on the university's MBA Board of Directors. He received the Best Teacher Award in 1997 and 2006 as a faculty member in Canterbury's College of Business and Economics.
He joined the faculty at St. Bonaventure as a visiting professor in the fall of 2004 and became a full-time faculty member in 2008. John was highly respected by the faculty, staff, and students in the School of Business.
John also served as the primary color commentator for SBU-TV broadcasts of men's basketball games.
In addition to his wife, Dr. Leslie Ann Raymore Watson, he is survived by four children, John, Noah, Stephen and Elizabeth; his mother, Dr. Suzanne Watson; brother, Stephen; and sister, Jane.
He was predeceased by his father, John, and sister, Christine.
A Funeral Mass will take place at 4 p.m. Monday (May 21, 2012), at St. Bonaventure Parish in Allegany, followed by a funeral supper at the Magnano Centre (Hickey Dining Hall) on campus. The Rev. James Vacco, OFM, pastor, will be celebrant. Since parking around the parish is limited, guests are invited to park on campus and pick up a shuttle by the statue of Mary next to Hickey Dining Hall starting at 2:45 p.m.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Guenther Funeral Home, Inc., 1303 East State Street, Olean.
Donations can be made in his honor to either the Chris Dudley Foundation Diabetes Camp, 515 NW Saltzman Road #789, Portland, OR 97229 or to Archbishop Walsh Academy, 208 North 24th Street, Olean, NY 14760.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for John Watson
John Cusack
November 20, 2024
John was an inspiration to the kids learning to play basketball in De La Salle College, in Waterford Ireland. I have fond memories of the away games he organized in Dublin. None of that would have happened without him. His time in Ireland left many with memories. Thanks for everything John.
Stuart Cottrell
March 26, 2013
Dear Leslie,
sorry to hear this. I was telling stories about my b-ball efforts while at Penn STate and how I was lucky to have a great player on my intramural team.... and did a search and found this out. Many condolences.... and I wish you and your family best wishes,
Cordially,
Stuart
Richard Dingwall
September 27, 2012
Just stumbled across this today. Very sad to hear - as a former Marketing student at Canterbury (2004-2005), he was always everyone's favourite lecturer. It was common for his classes to attract students from other disciplines who came just to hear him speak - I remember you had to arrive early just to get a seat. My thoughts are with his family and colleagues.
June 4, 2012
Dear Leslie and the entire Watson family,
We were all deeply sorry to hear about John. His passing is a loss to the entire community. God Bless.
Donna & L.J. Sweet
Barnao Family
May 30, 2012
To the Watson Family,
Our thoughts and Prayers are with you all at this sad time. Our Deepest Sympathy.
Barnao Family.
Nelson.
New Zealand.
Joseph Barnao
May 30, 2012
My Sympathies go out to all of Dr John's family.
John was a truly great inspiration, an excellent lecturer and a fantastic person. It was a true privilege to be taught by John and be published together. This is an immense loss, however John leaves a massive legacy to be proud of.
My thoughts are with you all.
Joseph Barnao.
May 24, 2012
To the Watson family, my prayers and thoughts are with you in the difficult time. Tom Boney
Gareth Mitchell
May 23, 2012
Dear Leslie and family, my deepest condolences to you all during this difficult time. John had a real impact on Basketball in Canterbury, New Zealand and will be greatly missed.
Gareth Mitchell
Tara Zak
May 22, 2012
Dear Watsons,
We wish to send you our prayers and thoughts at this most difficult time.
Sincerely,
Kate Warner and Family
May 22, 2012
To the Watson family, my deepest sympothies. Please know you all are in my thoughts and prayers. I wish we could just all go back to Port Huron one more time and enjoy Gus Macker, bonfires on beach, bathing in the lake, and us shorter ones elbowing the 7-footers in order to get our food off the buffet table. Those times are some of my best memories. My heart is with all of you.
Much love and affection,
Carolyn Vertovec (aka Rachel)
Nicola Alpe
May 22, 2012
Dear Leslie, Buzz, Noah, Stephen and Elizabeth.
I was so incredibly sad and shocked to hear of John's passing. To say we've lost a passionate and motivating force is an understatement. I thought of you before I knew of this news only on Saturday as I will think of you a lot in times to come. Like many people I will carry fond memories of John; of his enthusiasm for life and his interests, of his love and dedication for his family and of his ability to get everyone 'pumped' for a cause. I wish you all the best for the coming months and send my love to you all.
Nicola Alpe xx (nee Odgers, University of Canterbury, Canterbury Rams and your babysitter 1999-2001).
brad sinden
May 22, 2012
dear Leslie , John, Noah , Steven and Elizabeth my deepest condolences to you all my prayers are with you........ Brad Sinden
Amy & Andrew Gardiner
May 22, 2012
Dear Leslie and family, we, Andrew and Amy gardiner send our condolences at this terrible time. we are all shocked and saddened at the news here in New Zealand. John and your family will be forever etched in our history and we only hope that the great memories will give you all strength at this time. All our love.... The Gardiners
Richard Petti
May 22, 2012
To the family and relatives of John,
I would like to add my sincere condolences to those of Richard Sherman. To the younger members of the fraternity John was very much an inspiration. A superstar athlete with straight A's, quick with a joke and a superb DJ. My lasting image of John is seeing him every breakfast time dressed, pressed and clean shaven devouring a mountain of pancakes then dashing off to class on time with a cheery smile on his face (with the rest of us bleary-eyed in various states of undress contemplating whether to return to bed or not). And if it was a Friday you could also be sure he would do a superb DJ session at the house party as well. Always leading by example, very much his own man, making the best of his university experience. He shall be sorely missed by all of us who knew him. RIP John.
Niamh Rattray
May 21, 2012
Dear Leslie,John,Noah,Steven and Elizabeth.
It's niamh here and I'd like to say im so sorry about john and i hope your not too sad.
we went to the 9:00 mass this morning(monday) to say our prayers.
Once again im so sorry for your loss.
Niamh.
Gaby Moore
May 21, 2012
Dearest Lesley, Buzz, Noah, Stephen and Elizabeth, We are so saddened by the news of John's passing. We are sorry that we cannot reach you from down here in NZ but our prayers and faith are strong for you at this time. We celebrated mass at St Peter's this morning in rememerance of John. Gaby Alister James and Niamh
John Watson on the court - March 13, 1987 - Bucknell vs Georgetown (NCAA Tournament)
Rich Sherman
May 21, 2012
Leslie (and kids):
I am President of the Lambda Chi Alpha Alumni Association, the fraternity that John was in at Bucknell University. I graduated one year ahead of him. On behalf of John's fraternity brothers and friends, we are all very sorry for your tragic loss.
John was a very well-liked, and admired guy; I never heard one negative comment about him in all my years associated with the fraternity. I attached a picture from March 13, 1987. John taking the basketball court at the Omni in Atlanta - representing Bucknell at it's first trip to the NCAA basketball tournament. We were all so proud to have John out there representing our school and our fraternity.
Again, we are all very sorry for your unimaginable loss.
Leigh Rodd
May 21, 2012
Dear Leslie, I was so sorry to hear of John's sudden passing. My thoughts and prayers are with you and the children.
Graham Timms
May 20, 2012
Dear Leslie, I sit here in Boulder Colorado, stunned to read of Johns passing. My memories of John in New Zealand basketball circles are fond and my only regret is I did not reach out while living in the USA to make contact with you all. My thoughts are with you and your children. Take care...Graham Timms, Boulder CO. 720 880 8076. [email protected]
May 20, 2012
Dear Suzie, Leslie and family,
We were so sorry to hear the news about the untimely loss of young John. Please know how very much you are in our thoughts and prayers. May you all be blessed with much strength and fond memories during this very trying time.
All our love,
The MacDonald Family
Lori Picheniuk
May 20, 2012
Leslie and family, I am so sorry to hear of John's sudden passing. We are keeping you all in our thoughts during this difficult time. We won't be able to make the service tomorrow but will be thinking of you.
Brian, Lori and Jalen
Courtney Walsh
May 20, 2012
Dear Watson family, We are so sad to hear of John's passing. All our love and prayers, Courtney, Meghan and Nancy Walsh
May 19, 2012
Dear Sue, Steve and Jane - our family sends prayers and thoughts to all of your during this terrible time of grief and sadness. All the Moriarty family aches for you and may God's blessings help you through this time....Kathleen (Moriarty) Christy and family
Rob Buckla '84
May 19, 2012
My deepest sympathy to the Watson family and to the St. Bonaventure family at this most difficult time. Know that people around the nation are praying for you.
May 19, 2012
Dear Steve, Loving thoughts and prayers to you and all the Watsons. Matt and Marti Whitmore
May 19, 2012
Thoughts and prayers go out to you at the sudden loss of your husband & Dad. So sorry :(
Michelle, Chris, Christopher, & Gabrielle Giardini
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