John Michael BANCROFT

BANCROFT, John Michael

65, of Bradenton, died on Oct. 12, 2014. Raised all around the Midwest and Southwest, John called Tucson, AZ, his hearts home. He began his journalism career while still in his teens at the Indianapolis Star, and he was a reporter, critic and editor for newspapers and magazines in Chicago, Palm Beach, Tucson, Phoenix and Tampa. A graduate of the University of Arizona, he was an editor for the UA Press and the UA Office of Arid Lands Studies as well as the University of South Florida Graduate School. Most recently, he was food and wine editor of Sarasota Magazine, and until a few weeks before his death he wrote a wine column for the Tampa Bay Times with his wife, Colette. John was an elegant writer, a voracious reader, a connoisseur of restaurants, an adventurous traveler and a dedicated and creative gardener. He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Colette; his brother, Frank Lambert, and wife Anita of Nokomis; his father-in-law, John Mullaney, of Destin; his brothers-in-law, Gerry Mullaney and wife Jo Fuller of Port St. Lucie, and Pat Mullaney and wife Bonnie of Kennesaw, GA; nieces, Erin Bell of Carmel, IN, Corie Farnsley of Danville, IN, and Kristin Mullaney of Kennesaw; nephew, Brian Mullaney of Atlanta; two grandnephews and two grandnieces. John doted on his dog, Pearl, and cats Dash and Isabel. A memorial gathering will be announced later. Donations may be made in his name to Defenders of Wildlife, Doctors Without Borders or Tidewell Hospice.