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John Offutt Obituary
June 30, 1961 - November 20, 2020
John was taken from us suddenly while doing what he loved best - cycling. John was predeceased by his father, John Longmaid Offutt Sr.; grandparents, Casper Yost Offutt and Mary Longmaid Offutt.
He is survived by his loving family, his mother, Marilyn Offutt Mammel; his wife, Jane Ferguson; his sons, Eric and Connor; his sister, Mary Offutt Novelli; his nieces, nephews and his extensive network of family and friends.
John was born and raised in Omaha, NE and spent idyllic summers at the family cottage at Okoboji, IA. He graduated from Deerfield Academy in 1979 and Rice University with an Honors B.A. in 1983. He obtained his M.B.A. from Claremont Graduate University in California in 1985. While in Paris taking classes toward his degree in the summer of 1984, he met his future wife, Jane Ferguson. A three-week romance blossomed into a 36-year love story. He moved to Toronto the day he finished his last exam and never left.
His first career was as an account executive in the advertising industry. He then obtained his real estate license and began a successful career buying, selling and renovating homes. Learning from his architect father and designer mother, John had an uncanny ability to see what others didn't in even the most neglected of houses and to transform them into something truly wonderful to live in. In his forties, he decided his talents and abundant energy would best be spent teaching, and he earned his B.Ed in 2005. Mr. "O" was a force of nature at Thorncliffe Park Public School as a kindergarten, 3rd grade and a gym teacher. His teaching philosophy was simple: Make your classroom a welcoming, Supportive place so that kids love school and learning will inevitably follow. He coached countless kids in athletics, ran a yoga club and a boys' book club.
John had many passions, and will be remembered for the incredible joie de vivre with which he pursued them. He was an avid reader, knowledgeable wine Enthusiast and loved to travel. He was a gifted athlete who loved cycling best of all. He enjoyed many cycling holidays and climbed most of the great peaks in Europe on his bike. He ran several marathons without ever training for them. He was a strong swimmer and completed several triathlons, including two as a guide for blind triathletes. He achieved his second-degree black belt in karate and studied yoga and completed his yoga teacher training. He was a loving and supportive husband. He loved his friends and sharing his passions with them, but he loved his sons most of all. He was in the process of completing a renovation for one son and planning a renovation for the other when he died.
John was well known for his volunteerism and his philanthropy. He coached soccer to underprivileged kids, was a camp counselor and water-ski instructor at a summer camp for kids with cancer and served on several community boards.
While his death was a tragedy, his life was a joy that he lived with passion and enthusiasm, which inspired countless others. He leaves a hole in our lives that will never be filled.
A CELEBRATION OF LIFE will be held at a later date when we can all gather together again. Those wishing to honor his memory are encouraged to make a donation in his name to one of his favorite charities: Moorelands.ca/john-offutt/, wpshc.com or a charity of your choice. Remembrances may be left at www.legacy.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for John Offutt
Laiba
November 17, 2024
Mister offut was my junior and senior kindergarten teacher. I´m 21 now. I think about the impact he made on me when I started school and I didn´t even know it . He was reason I grew up to love school. He was so kind to us and I remember Kindergarten like no time has passed since. He was my first and favorite teacher I have ever had. I searched him up recently to write him an email to share how I still remember him and thank him for the impact he made. I was heartbroken to see he has passed. I wish his family nothing but the best. I remember How much he loved his kids, he would share thier yearly school pictures with us. I hope you are all doing well. Mister offut was an incredible man and I will be forever thankful to have had the pleasure of having met him at such a young age.
Amy D
January 3, 2022
Mr. Offutt was my junior kindergarten teacher many, many years ago. He created the most loving, welcoming space in his classroom. Even after moving away from East York, I always thought about him. His style of leading a classroom was so unique, and he was the reason why I looked forward to coming into school every single day. I never had a teacher touch my heart the way he did. I have such fond memories of the time I spent as his student, and when I heard the news of his passing I was truly devastated. He clearly carried this energy everywhere he went; he is loved and missed by many. My heartfelt condolences to your family. He will never be forgotten.
Shelley Adam
November 12, 2021
Dear Jane, Eric and Connor,
I have just stumbled upon the news that John has passed away. I am not sure if you will remember me from the days that Eric and Connor were at Mooredale House and RDS where I taught Kindergarten. I still see those 5 year old faces in my class as if it were yesterday. Where have the years gone? I remember your family so very well ....... the fierce love you had for each other, the boundless energy within the classroom and outside of it and the wonderful end-of-school parties you had for staff, students and their families at your Rosedale home. I know John would have been the driving force behind all of this zest and generosity. I am incredibly sorry that you lost your husband, Jane and that you have lost your dad, Eric and Connor. It sounds like John was making a real difference at Thorncliffe School. I wish I had known that he had gotten into teaching. Perhaps our paths would have crossed once again. Take care of each other. My heartfelt condolences.
Jeffrey Canto-Thaler
January 26, 2021
Dear Jane, I just heard about your loss. My sincere, heartfelt condolences to you and to your family. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Gail Leach-Wunker
January 21, 2021
Dear Jane, We were so sorry to learn of John's tragic and untimely death. It is many years since we saw either of you, but we fondly remember wine dinners with you both in Toronto. I met John when we were both working in advertising and our respective companies sent us to Toastmasters to learn to be better public speakers. I thought John and Randy would be interested to meet and discuss their mutual enjoyment of and interest in wine. Our condolences go out to you and the boys. Gail Leach-Wunker & Randy Wunker, Minden, Ontario
Wayne Rudson
January 3, 2021
Jane and family my heart is filled with sorrow over John’s tragic and unnecessary passing.
I have so many great memories of us having beautiful dinners (and wine) with you both and David and Michael.
He was so passionate and generous. Never met anyone like him.
Let his legacy carry on in you and your boys.
Wayne.
Sandhya & Raman Kohli
December 28, 2020
We started to write about John many times here. But knowing he is not around any longer is unfathomable. John was larger than life. He loved children, was an outstanding teacher, and this manifest in the patience he had with our own kids up at the cottage-teaching them to water ski, to play euchre, to give them small life lessons. John was generous in every way, sharing his way of life, always. We shall miss him dearly. If we miss him this much, the pain of this loss for his beautiful boys, for his dear wife Jane, and his dear mother and sister is unspeakable. He will not be forgotten.
valerie veres moretti
December 20, 2020
Jane .... please know you're in my heart. With sincere sympathies extended to you and to your family, as to John's mother.
x valerie
Wini Foxley Wells
December 15, 2020
Marilyn what a heart break and a loss for all who knew him.
Susan Lay
December 13, 2020
I am greatly shocked and saddened to read of John´s passing.... John was a classmate of mine at Oakdale Elementary School in Omaha, NE. I remember John as kind and inquisitive... John was an impressionable young boy. As was John´s entire family... very cool people! I am not surprised to read that John lived passionately and authentically with much joy, love and life.
My heartfelt condolences to John´s family, loved ones and friends.
Susan Lay
Hendersonville, NC
Vuylsteke cousins
December 13, 2020
Jane....all of your Vuylsteke cousins send our heartfelt condolences to you, Eric and Connor. We were shocked to learn of the loss of John. We have such fond memories of your wedding so many years ago and what a vibrant and fun filled day it was. A day of love and family, much like John himself. There is not much that other people can say to take away the pain of your loss, but take some comfort knowing how many people have you in their thoughts and hearts.
Robin Baer
December 13, 2020
To John’s Family,
I was so sad to hear this news and so very sorry for your loss. I knew John back at Oakdale Elementary School in Omaha. We were in Miss Ohlinger’s 3rd grade class together. We sat next to each other. He was such a little gentleman back then as he always pulled out my chair for me. He left such an impression on me!
My heartfelt condolences to you all.
Robin Schneiderman Baer
Stephen Abraham
December 12, 2020
Having read the obit in today’s World Herald I was moved and impressed by the lovely foot print John Offutt, Jr has left. As a parent I am so saddened by the news and hold my friend and decorator, John’s mother Marilyn, in my heart. Marilyn is one of the funnest, joyful and creative people I know and so it is no surprise to read John renovated homes, gave so much of himself, and loved and worked for kids. As an avid biker, his death awakens me to keep vigilant about the few bad drivers out there.
I can’t imagine what kind of hole this leaves and I try not to, as a parent of two. But for now, I am, and it’s overwhelming. When I think of Marilyn I think of joy and laughter as she puts a smile on my face. When I think of this loss carving deep into her soul, I think of the greater joy and sorrow she can contain.
All my love,
Stephen Abraham
Omaha, Nebraska
John Fanjoy
December 12, 2020
I was introduced to John and his passion for cycling through my brother Bill a close friend for 30 years. In 2008, John, in a rare moment, was willing to sell one of his bikes, an orange and red Aguila Touring bike that he rode around Ireland on a few years prior. It turned out to be the perfect fit for me and soon I was riding to work several times a week, trying to get home faster and faster each day. I was planning on selling the Aguila next spring but now that's not possible.
A few years later when I was looking for a more agile and faster bike John offered to help me and we met at the Toronto Cycling Show. I describe the type of urban/trail riding that I was doing as we toured the show. We looked at dozens of makes and models until he saw a cyclo-cross model by Focus and he declared, "that's the bike for you" and he was right.
While I never had the pleasure of riding with John, his passion and fitness discipline influenced Bill and Bill influenced me into make riding a bigger part of my life. Indeed it was cycling that saved my leg 9 years ago after a serious infection.
Like so many here and elsewhere, I owe much to John, both directly and indirectly and I'll be thinking of him tomorrow on my ride.
Kim Reeves
December 9, 2020
Jane, Eric and Connor - I am so saddened to hear about the passing of John(ny). He, Mary, my brother Dan, Anne, Jimmy, Nancy Mammal and myself spent summer nights playing flashlight tag into the midnight hours of our neighborhood. Summers found us watching him ride his bike off the dock at Okoboji and other daredevil escapades. So amazed to hear about his latest endeavors of teaching. My condolences to all of you. Kim Crosby Reeves (Omaha)
Christina Willenborg
December 8, 2020
Jane, I am so sorry to hear about John. Steven and my thoughts are with you and your family at this time
Christina Willenborg
Classmate
Muqadas
December 8, 2020
I was a student of mr. offut in 2009 he was my coach for several teams and I haven’t seen him ever since because I transitioned to middle school yet to this day he is alive in my heart and the impression he has made in my life was a lasting one. Everytime I remember him I laugh because when he was our coach we would lose most games since the kids in my school weren’t exposed to sports as a extracurricular but after every game mr.Offut would treat the students to ice cream or a pizza party out of his own pocket. He loved his students like his own children and was never stern with us he wanted the kids to just get active and have fun, he instilled a love for sport in so many kids hearts and his memory will forever live on in hundreds of hearts.
debra brown
December 8, 2020
So sorry for your loss Jane. My sincere condolences to you and your family. ‘All I know of love is that love is all there is’
Mira King
December 7, 2020
We were shocked and saddened when we heard the terrible news. He was definitely a light and we remember him as a kind, and energetic spirit.
We would like to send our deepest condolences to Jane and the boys, Eric and Connor, and to his family.
Gone too soon.
With love,
Mira , Steve and Dmitri
Grace Hoagland
December 7, 2020
A great-hearted man and an astonishing life...what an immense loss. We knew Johnny O as he flew through and around our cottages at lake okoboji with his improbable athletic abilities and endless sense of fun. He's inspired so many lives, and it's especially wonderful to think of his lasting impact on the lives of so many children. It's very hard and very sad to know he's gone, leaving the rest of us with a treasure of
john offut stories and indelible memories. Our hearts are with his family. It's a heartbreaking loss.
Katie Ozolins
December 7, 2020
John sounds like an incredible person; I wish that I had met and cycled with him. As a fellow member of Morning Glory Cycling Club, he sounds like a truly amazing person; just reading his obituary inspires me to reach for and do more. Thank you for sharing his story - I am positive his legacy will live on. My condolences and prayers to his family.
David Rose
December 7, 2020
I knew John as a fellow realtor. I always found him insightful, optimistic,
and eager to assist. His ability to have balance in is life was inspirational.
Despite his demanding career, he always made time for his family.
John Gannon
December 6, 2020
I rode with John just once in Santa Barbara, but we talked about teaching, cycling, and life. I followed his rides in Toronto on Strava and wondered if I would see him again in Santa Barbara. Even though we only met once, I could sense a true love for life, travel, and adventure. Best wishes to his wife and sons.
Charlie Deeks
December 6, 2020
I had met John through the Muskoka cycling community. We rode together several times, exploring back roads while chatting the whole time, leaving me winded at the top of the hills trying to hold on to his wheel. John was “cool” - not only did he possess a museum-caliber collection of bicycles, but had many interesting stories and a refreshing outlook on life. He made me a better cyclist and pushed me to strive to be the best I could be, not only at sport, but in life - and how to get the most out of it! I commented on John’s last Muskoka ride he posted on Strava recently, and we exchanged some nice back and forth about riding together in 2021. While that won’t happen, I know he’ll still be out there (maybe in his fluoro pink jersey) giving us a draft.
Monica Brotto
December 6, 2020
Dear Kathy - I am so sorry to hear of this terrible tragedy - the loss of your brother in law, John. Undoubtedly an amazing man who led an amazing life - what an inspiration to all to actually live life, take chances, and be open to all possibilities. Please give my sincerest condolences to Jane and your whole family. Monica Brotto
Hugh Agro
December 5, 2020
My heartfelt thoughts and deepest prayers are with John's family at this time. John's sudden loss is gut-wrenching. He will be terribly missed by all those who had the privilege to known him and to have enjoyed his company on many adventures over the years. John was a shining light, a generous and supportive friend and someone who made the world a better place. May his amazing example and esprit de corps live on!
James Phillips
December 5, 2020
My condolences to the family. I remember John from his years working in real estate. I always thought of him as a unique and special person, and admired him greatly when he moved on to teach kids in an underprivileged, mainly new-immigrant section of Toronto. I know that John's character and example will carry on in all the lives he touched.
Dave Coutanche
December 5, 2020
I met John at teacher's college - we were the "old guys". The other things we had in common were cycling and running. John's passion for cycling was infectious, and we spent many hours riding together. John was generous with his time and the things he loved. John and his wife Jane graciously invited us to their cottage on many occasions. They honoured my wife and me by hosting our wedding rehearsal dinner at their home. John was a true gentlemen and through his teaching has inspired many children to be kind, generous, and adventurous. I miss you John. Thank you for touching my life. Dave Coutanche
Alison Jarvis
December 5, 2020
Our family is devastated by the loss of our dear friend John. Our friendship went back 30 years and our lives have been enhanced and made better for having friends like John and Jane. John was a gatherer of people. He loved his friends deeply and would always treat you like family the minute you entered his home for one of his legendary wine dinners. He was a teacher not to just the kids in his classroom but to all of us in his orbit. John loved life and loved his family. He spoke fondly of his boys and his wife, always touting their accomplishments. He was positive and energetic and a great listener. John will leave a huge hole at our table and in our lives. Our condolences and love to his amazing family Jane, Conor and Eric.
Alison and David Jarvis
Becky, Megan and Abbie Rudson
stephen still
December 5, 2020
We met John at Lake Joseph. What a kind and gracious man. Full of energy! We wish peace for Jane and family.
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