John died shortly before Christmas 2024 after cancer returned to his body. I will update this page as we know more details. He and his wife, Maury, were living in Southern California at the time of his death.
Oh, my! Good ol John. I was just thinking about him yesterday wondering why I hadn't heard anything about or from him on this forum. John's family moved in to a house that was almost directly across the street from my family's house. That likely was around Jr. Highish. Later his family moved about 2 blocks away to East Main. We used to play home run derby with wiffle (woffle?) balls in his back yard. I believe he had a younger brother named Scott(?--excuse an old man's memory). We all played on the same Middle League Baseball team (13-15 year olds). There were only 6-8 teams for the entire Santa Maria/Orcutt area. Many went on to play Varsity Baseball at SMHS or Righetti. I didn't, as I ended up running Track and Cross-Country. This is very sad to hear. I would be interested in learning more.
This was quite a shock to me. I last saw John and Maury when we and a few other classmates went on a cruise to Alaska in 2017. Since our college graduations (about 1973), we had seen each other occasionaly over the years since we both lived in San Diego County. Back in Junior High and HIgh School, John and I spent quite a bit of time together. Along with Johnny Alexander, Glen Kiser and Mike Stearns, we could frequently be found playing basketball at Fesler Jr. High. We remember with fondness forming and playing basketball in a city YMCA league. Once we all had our own cars, many Friday nights you would find us doing a "Tipusquet Run" on Hwy 166 northeast of town as we played "Follow the Leader" into the east county. Our group of guys were not exactly social butterflies and for most of us, dating was still a few years into our future. However, I did convince John (we often referred to him as JR to differentiate him from the other John in our group) to join me as we double-dated for the Senior Prom. John was the first of our group to be accepted to a 4-year college, and lacking any good reason "not to go", a group of us followed him to San Diego State College (now SDSU) in about 1970. For a short period of time, our group shared an apartment in San Diego, although that did not work out well, and our group slowly began going in separate directions. John, you were an important part of my life and will be missed!
I informed Eddie Hill about John's passing several days ago. It was a shock indeed.
Like Steve said, I remember visiting him at the Main St. house. Steve, Nan Macdonald and Robbie Barror all lived around the corner on Ranch St., I believe.
John and I used to "cruise the drag" in our high school days. Howard Williams and Lauren Souza both lived near SM high. John and I decided to throw out a cherry bomb outside Howard's house on a couple occasions. We also used to drive by Lauren's house hoping by chance to see her outside sweeping the sidewalk or washing her car, or something, anything. I guess we both had a crush on her.
Needless to say our antics at Howard's house caught up with us. One day as John and I arrived back at my house we had a visitor that met us at the door. Seems as though Howard's dad had hired a private detective to investigate the cherry bomb "attacks". He had a long talk with my mom, John and myself. That episode scared the heck out of us and we promised to never do that again.
We did not, however, promise to never go by Lauren's house for a sighting!
At one point in the mid seventies John and I rented a house together. He and I still played basketball at the hoop out in front of the garage.I still have the memories come flooding back about our times together.
I met my future wife while living at that house. Shortly after that I moved into my own apartment. John and I p arted ways after that. I believe I saw him at the 20th reunion.
I saw John and Maureen about 20 years later at their house in Oceanside. That was the last time.Wish now that we had kept in closer touch. He will be missed!
Steve Leger
Oh, my! Good ol John. I was just thinking about him yesterday wondering why I hadn't heard anything about or from him on this forum. John's family moved in to a house that was almost directly across the street from my family's house. That likely was around Jr. Highish. Later his family moved about 2 blocks away to East Main. We used to play home run derby with wiffle (woffle?) balls in his back yard. I believe he had a younger brother named Scott(?--excuse an old man's memory). We all played on the same Middle League Baseball team (13-15 year olds). There were only 6-8 teams for the entire Santa Maria/Orcutt area. Many went on to play Varsity Baseball at SMHS or Righetti. I didn't, as I ended up running Track and Cross-Country. This is very sad to hear. I would be interested in learning more.
Steve Leger
Ed Hill
This was quite a shock to me. I last saw John and Maury when we and a few other classmates went on a cruise to Alaska in 2017. Since our college graduations (about 1973), we had seen each other occasionaly over the years since we both lived in San Diego County. Back in Junior High and HIgh School, John and I spent quite a bit of time together. Along with Johnny Alexander, Glen Kiser and Mike Stearns, we could frequently be found playing basketball at Fesler Jr. High. We remember with fondness forming and playing basketball in a city YMCA league. Once we all had our own cars, many Friday nights you would find us doing a "Tipusquet Run" on Hwy 166 northeast of town as we played "Follow the Leader" into the east county. Our group of guys were not exactly social butterflies and for most of us, dating was still a few years into our future. However, I did convince John (we often referred to him as JR to differentiate him from the other John in our group) to join me as we double-dated for the Senior Prom. John was the first of our group to be accepted to a 4-year college, and lacking any good reason "not to go", a group of us followed him to San Diego State College (now SDSU) in about 1970. For a short period of time, our group shared an apartment in San Diego, although that did not work out well, and our group slowly began going in separate directions. John, you were an important part of my life and will be missed!
John Alexander (Alexander)
I informed Eddie Hill about John's passing several days ago. It was a shock indeed.
Like Steve said, I remember visiting him at the Main St. house. Steve, Nan Macdonald and Robbie Barror all lived around the corner on Ranch St., I believe.
John and I used to "cruise the drag" in our high school days. Howard Williams and Lauren Souza both lived near SM high. John and I decided to throw out a cherry bomb outside Howard's house on a couple occasions. We also used to drive by Lauren's house hoping by chance to see her outside sweeping the sidewalk or washing her car, or something, anything. I guess we both had a crush on her.
Needless to say our antics at Howard's house caught up with us. One day as John and I arrived back at my house we had a visitor that met us at the door. Seems as though Howard's dad had hired a private detective to investigate the cherry bomb "attacks". He had a long talk with my mom, John and myself. That episode scared the heck out of us and we promised to never do that again.
We did not, however, promise to never go by Lauren's house for a sighting!
At one point in the mid seventies John and I rented a house together. He and I still played basketball at the hoop out in front of the garage.I still have the memories come flooding back about our times together.
I met my future wife while living at that house. Shortly after that I moved into my own apartment. John and I p arted ways after that. I believe I saw him at the 20th reunion.
I saw John and Maureen about 20 years later at their house in Oceanside. That was the last time.Wish now that we had kept in closer touch. He will be missed!