John Richard Cade

1941 - 2024

John Richard Cade, 83, passed away on Sunday, January 14, 2024 at Majestic Residential Care in Simi, California.

John was born on January 5, 1941 in Bloomington, Illinois to Carroll and Alice Cade. John married Dorothy Anderson on June 19, 1968 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Atlantic, Iowa.

Surviving is his brother, Stephen (Barbara) of Hot Springs, AR, and four nieces: Catharine Pickett of Longmont, CO; Elisabeth Lee of Monroe, CT; Karen Edelen of Chesterfield, MO; and Diane Bauhof of Valley Park, MO.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Dorothy, and his brother, Andrew.

John grew up in Normal, Illinois, attended Metcalf Elementary, and graduated in 1959 from University High School. After graduating from Illinois State University with a degree in Education, he taught high school science in Savanna, Illinois, where he met his wife. During that time, the Los Angeles County schools were recruiting teachers for the growing population of Baby Boomers who were living in California. He accepted a position teaching high school science in the Los Angeles schools, ending up living in Simi, and teaching in Chatsworth until his retirement.

During this time, John had many interests. His interest in science led him to buy a large telescope and a plot of land on a mountain top outside of the city lights of Los Angeles. There, he did a lot of observing and photographing of the night sky. His astronomy interest also took him all over the world to view and photograph a few solar eclipses. Earlier in his life, he played the violin. In Simi, he used that interest to develop a passion for guitar. Over time, he purchased several high-end acoustic guitars, and played occasionally in a bluegrass band. John loved reading science fiction. With his dry sense of humor, he would talk about aliens living on earth, or alien spacecraft sightings where one was never really sure if he truly believed that or not.

After cremation, his ashes will be buried with those of his wife in a private ceremony in Ardmore, Oklahoma. No memorial service is planned.

Condolences can be sent to Stephen Cade at scade@ipa.net.