76, of Honolulu, passed on to his heavenly home on December 29, 2022, while surrounded by his loving family.John graduated from Rockland High School in Massachusetts in 1964, where he was voted "Mr. Ideal" for his scholastic, athletic, and leadership abilities, and for his strength of character. He served as President of the National Honor Society, was a stand-out baseball player, and to this day remains the all-time scoring leader in basketball. His team jersey was retired several years ago.
Following a year at the Bullis School in Maryland, John attended the United States Naval Academy where he broke all scoring records on the basketball court. He was named to the USNA Athletic Hall of Fame and in 2022 was honored with the title "Navy Sports Legend." He was the first member of his family to attend college, and the education of his family became a life-long focus.
Upon graduation, John was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks, but his five-year service obligation to the Marine Corps prevented him from participating. After a year with the Marine Corps in Okinawa, he and Linda, his high school sweetheart, and their son, John Ill, moved to Hawaii in 1971 where he was stationed at Camp Smith. Two years later, their daughter, Erin, was born. John continued his basketball career, earning top scorer in the 1971 Rainbow Classic and was an alternate on the '72 Olympics team. During this time, John also received his MBA from Pepperdine University.
In 1975 the family moved to Hilo where John began his real estate career. He served as President of both the Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce and the Hawaii Island Board of Realtors. He also held positions on the Diocesan Finance Council for the Catholic Diocese of Honolulu and strategic committees for UH Hilo.
John eventually traded in his briefcase for a passport and he and Linda traveled, sometimes with the whole family in tow. He laughed, he danced, he lived life with exuberance.
John was an honorable, loving, generous, and faithful man who was a warrior on the court, in his business life, and in fighting his illness. Despite the failure of his physical abilities, his spirit remained alive and animated until the end. John and Linda were married for 53 blessed years, and it was a journey of bliss. To his grandchildren, he was known as Poppy, and he delighted in every moment with them.
John is survived by Linda, son John (Alexa), daughter Erin (Carl), and the Magnificent Seven: Dylan, Reilly, Liam, and Analei Higgins and Strat, Will, and Celia Tolmie. He is also survived by three of his siblings and many nieces and nephews.
A Funeral Mass will be held at the Newman Center/Holy Spirit Parish on March 17, 2023 at 10:00 am, with visitation to begin at 9:15. Free parking will be located at the former St. Francis School, 2707 Pamoa Rd. John's Celebration of Life will follow at the Kahala Hotel, Maile Ballroom. For those wishing to commemorate his life, donations may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation, Friends of the Newman Center or Bristol Hospice Hawaii.
