John Mark Vine
John Mark Vine of Washington, DC, passed away on Wednesday, December 1, 2021, at the age of 77. John was the beloved husband of Joanne Vine; devoted father of David Vine, Adam Vine (Ana Muñiz), Brian Levin, and Todd Levin; loving brother of Hugh Vine (Lydia Vine) and Ed Vine (Ellen Singer-Vine); and friend to many. John grew up in Trenton, NJ and graduated from Amherst College and Harvard Law School. He came to Washington to clerk for Judge Arnold Raum on the U.S. Tax Court and spent the remainder of his legal career at Covington & Burling, where he was instrumental in shaping important aspects of the U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) following its passage in 1974. He represented some of Covington's largest and most significant clients before both houses of Congress, the U.S. Treasury Department, Internal Revenue Service, and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, as well as in numerous seminal cases in the U.S. Supreme Court and federal courts of appeals. Colleagues described him as "a giant in his field." In addition to his groundbreaking work in the areas of employee benefits and executive compensation, John was a model and teacher for generations of younger lawyers. In retirement, John was an enthusiastic photographer and world traveler. He published and spoke widely about his book, A Parkinson's Primer, which has helped thousands of Parkinson's Disease patients and their loved ones. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, December 6, 2021, at Washington Hebrew Congregation, 3935 Macomb St. NW, Washington, DC 20016, with interment to follow at Garden of Remembrance Memorial Park in Clarksburg, MD. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Parkinson Foundation of the National Capital Area.www.sagelbloomfield.com

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Published by The Washington Post from Dec. 4 to Dec. 6, 2021.

Memories and Condolences
for JOHN VINE

8 Entries

Clifford Schoner

January 9, 2022

I had the privilege of interacting with John as our counsel on ERISA matters while employed as ERISA counsel for Union Pacific Railroad and when he served as counsel to ERIC of which I was board member. He was a lawyer's lawyer. His grasp of the field was with out parallel, his analytical capacity was awe inspiring, his oral and written presentation skills were marvelous, and he earned the confidence of all who relied upon him.

The opportunity to work with John is a high light of my professional career.

On a more personal level, I think he was a really good guy. Our conversations were always tinged with humor and a good deal of mutual respect. It didn't hurt that we were both Jersey guys.
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Richard Neugass, Amherst DKE grad, 1968

December 20, 2021

John was my hero at DKE! His work benefitting the Parkinson's Disease world of patients, doctors and caregivers is a prime example of the selfless giving that motivated this outstanding man.

John Boyer

December 12, 2021

I have known John and his wife, Joanne, for many years-- principally as a result of our mutual relationship with Parkinson's Disease. My wife, Sarah, also had Parkinson's, and we all found information and comfort in discussions among members of our Bethesda, MD Parkinson's Support Group, founded and organized by Dan and Vicki Lewis. John was always an inquisitive and active participant in the group. Never shy, he asked important questions, and without fail, he offered valuable insights from a patient's perspective. He also, routinely, demonstrated a sincere sensitivity to the plight of the caregivers of Parkinson's patients. A truly kind and caring man.

But over the years, Sarah and I learned much more about John's incredible professional career, his determination to travel and live life to its fullest, and his love of his wife and sons. In recent years Sarah and I moved to San Diego. John and Joanne found a second home in Encinitas, and we all reunited over lunches, dinners, SD Parkinson's events, and lively discussions between John and me about the Yankees vs. the Padres. We recently visited them in their new second home in Del Mar--an extraordinary, Southern California experience--and John was so delighted to have found such a beautiful place in which he and Joanne could view the sunsets. We saw them one more time before they returned to the DC area.

Sadly, Sarah passed away in October, but I am extremely confident that she and John are commiserating in heaven about what glorious lives they lived despite Parkinson's disease. I am sorely missing them both.

Warren Salerno

Planted Trees

Fred Millner

December 7, 2021

Please accept my sympathy. He encouraged me in my efforts to keep the wider Vine/Millner families connected, which I appreciate.

Gus Borgeson

December 5, 2021

In my very first class at Harvard Law School I sat down next to John. The first student called upon by a rather stern professor sat next to John. After class we walked out together, breathing sighs of relief that neither one of us had been called on. We became casual acquaintances but years later we became friends, personal and professional. John was always soft spoken and enjoyable to be with and a hell of a great lawyer.

John vanderstar

December 4, 2021

John and I were partners at Covington and Burling for many years. After I was diagnosed with Parkinson´s Disease I learn about John´s book. My wife and I often turn to his Parkinsons Primer and we have given copies to other friends who have received Parkinson Diagnoses. Rest In Peace, John.

Frank Titus

December 4, 2021

RIP John.

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