John P. Guinan

Fishkill, NY

John P. Guinan, 56, a resident of Fishkill, NY, died Tuesday, June 3, 2008 at Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Poughkeepsie following a courageous and heroic battle with brain cancer.

He was born on March 10, 1952 in Birmingham, England to James and Margaret Curnyn Guinan. His family came to the United States aboard the Queen Mary in 1957 and settled along the Hudson River in Garrison, NY. On April 25, 1973, John became a United States citizen, yet he long regarded himself as a true Irishman at heart.

In his earlier years, John worked as a paramedic, landscaper and golf course manager. He then landed a job with General Motors, which he stayed at for eleven years. Following the Tarrytown plant closure, he worked in excavation with longtime friend, Joe Frisenda and after a number of years, began working in tree service with Henry Lew Kingsley.

Prior to becoming ill, and with the help of many, he took over the family business at Guinan's Garrison Country Store in Garrison. While running the store, John became the face of the small town community and touched many people's lives through his honest nature, sincere heart and comedic rhetoric. He had the gift of making those around him feel at ease and offered to the community a place of solace from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Due to John's illness and his father retiring, the 50 year old family-owned and operated business closed its doors to the public earlier this year.

John joined the Philipstown Masonic Lodge, No. 236, in 1995. He remained an active member of the lodge until his death; even serving as Master from 2003-2005. During his tenure, he initiated and contributed to numerous community projects and fundraising efforts.

His love of sports led him to coach Pop Warner football, Little League baseball and CYO basketball in Philipstown and elsewhere. He was also a member of the Garrison Fish and Game Club as he was inspired by the outdoors, adored fishing and enjoyed canoeing.

On October 11, 1975, at Lady of Loretta church in Cold Spring, he married the love of his life, the former Mary Jane Caruso, who survives him in Fishkill, NY. He is further survived by daughter, Kelly and her fiancé, Ed Preusser of Garrison, NY; son, Sean and his wife, Amy Seidewand, along with granddaughter, Zoe Guinan of New Haven, CT and son, Casey of Fishkill, NY. John is also survived by his two sisters, Margaret Guinan and Christine D'Onofrio and husband, Mike D'Onofrio and family, of Lutz, FL; brother, James Guinan of San Francisco, CA and father, James Guinan, Sr. of Lutz, FL. He was predeceased by his mother, Margaret Guinan and brother-in-law, Tom Caruso.

In 1996, after learning that his brother-in-law was stricken with HIV/AIDS, John committed to cycling in an annual AIDS benefit ride, Braking the Cycle. He continued riding for eleven consecutive years until becoming ill in 2006. It was, ironically, on this last ride where his first symptoms appeared. John said that he did the ride every year to help renew his faith in humanity. In his honor and to continue his legacy, his daughter, Kelly, is now carrying on the tradition.

Calling hours are Friday, June 7 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m., at the Clinton Funeral Home, Corner of Parrott & Pine Sts (21 Parrott St), Cold Spring, NY.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, June 8, at 10 a.m. at the Our Lady of Loretto Church, Fair St., Cold Spring, NY.

In lieu of flowers, please send memorial donations to help his daughter continue his legacy of cycling in Braking the Cycle. Contributions can be made out to "LGBT Center" c/o "Team Guinan" and sent to: Braking the Cycle, c/o Global Impact Productions, 127 West 26th, Suite 402, New York, NY 10001 or contributions may be made directly to Team Guinan by going on-line at www.gaycenter.kintera.org/btc/TeamGuinan08.