John J. Hooten Jr.

1951 - 2018

John J. Hooten, Jr., 66, of Granite Bay, California, passed away suddenly on March 5, 2018. Born on October 31, 1951 in Philadelphia, PA, John attended Father Judge High School and received his degree in Business Management from Temple University, where he was the coxswain of the rowing team from 1970-73. John coached the first U.S. Women's Olympic rowing team (including his future wife) in the 1976 Montreal Games and was a four-time U.S. Women's National Team coach from 1976-79. Under his tutelage at Vesper Boat Club in Philadelphia, 18 rowers became Olympians and 32 earned spots on the U.S. National Team. Until his passing, he was a competitive Masters rower. John treasured time spent with his family. Beloved in his community, "Coach John" inspired the Johnson Ranch Barracudas for 12 years and led hundreds of swimmers to seven championships. A Boy Scout during his childhood, John served as Scoutmaster of Troop 121 for more than 20 years, motivating many to attain the highest rank of Eagle Scout. Among his many talents, John was an artist, creating cartoons and nail puzzles, as well as a unicyclist and founder of the Troopizi Unicycle Club. John was an avid storyteller, full of witty catchphrases, and a quirky tie enthusiast. A consummate volunteer, John gave his time and efforts to help young people flourish. His main passion was mentoring others to achieve their greatest potential. He knew how to bring out the best in every person. His impact will continue to be felt throughout the countless lives he touched. John is survived by his beloved wife of nearly 40 years, Dr. Susan Morgan Hooten; sons, Jon (Andrea) Lumiere and Woody; daughter, Julia; sisters, Catherine (P. Michael) Bolger, Mary (Thomas) Green, and Roseanne (Kenneth) White; numerous nieces; nephews; and in-laws; and countless friends from his rowing, scouting, and swimming communities. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Catherine Hooten. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in John's memory to the Drowning Accident Rescue Team and the California Rescue Dog Association. All are invited to a celebration of John's life on Friday, March 16th at 10:30 am at Bayside Church, Granite Bay Campus.