John King, 88, passed away peacefully on Monday, July 3 after a long illness.
John was born on March 19, 1929 in Manhattan, NYC to John and May Memory King and raised in the Bronx. After graduation from Harren High School in Manhattan, John enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard, serving from 1946-1949 and was stationed at the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn. During the summer cadet training cruise, John sailed on the famed tall ship “Eagle.” After graduation from the Univ. of Miami law school on the GI Bill, John practiced law in the private sector in Florida before moving to Washington, DC where he began his career in contract law.
In Washington he met his future wife, Marie, and they were married on March 23, 1956. In the early years of their marriage, John and Marie lived in Silver Spring, MD. In 1968 the family moved to Rochester, NY where John took a position at the Univ. of Rochester. It was in upstate NY that the family enjoyed skiing, sailing on Canandaigua Lake, and camping in the Adirondacks.
John was an excellent chess player, having learned the game as a youngster. He could often be found re-playing the games of the masters from the many chess books he owned, and loved teaching his children, grandchildren and neighborhood youngsters how to play.
Although he earned a living as a lawyer/administrator, John’s true passion was photography. This passion began in 1961 when he received a 35mm camera as a birthday gift. Wherever he lived, John always had a darkroom and, over the years, he exhibited his photographs at various art shows and galleries in upstate NY. In 1986, John along with other photographers contributed their photos of 19th and 20th Century buildings in Genesee County for publication in the book, The Architectural Heritage of Genesee County, New York. John was truly a “creative spirit”.
John was a member of the West Charlton United Presbyterian Church. He was a “born in the pews Presbyterian;” wherever he lived, he joined a Presbyterian church. He was an ordained deacon and elder, sang in the choir and taught adult Sunday School classes at the various churches where he was a member. While living in Oneonta, NY, John trained as a lay preacher and conducted Sunday services at several of the churches in that area.
John was predeceased by his sister, Gladys Williams and brother-in-law, Lawrence Williams. He is survived by his beloved wife of 61 years, the Rev. Marie King; children John W. King (Peggy) of Berea, OH; Jennifer Rossetti of Wellesley, MA; Christopher King of Hunlock Creek, PA, and Lisa Grenier of Philadelphia, PA; grandchildren Peter Rossetti (Kate), Charlie Rossetti, Courtney King (Chase), Caitlin King, Madeline King, and Jordan Rossetti, brother-in-law, William Kucher, and several nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank the Staff at Saratoga Community Hospice for their loving and compassionate care of John during his illness, especially Arlene, Alice and Rosalie.
Relatives and friends are invited to call on Friday, July 7 from 4pm to 7pm at Armer Funeral Home., Inc., 39 East High Street, Ballston Spa. Service of Witness to the Resurrection will be held at 11am on Saturday, July 8 at the West Charlton United Presbyterian Church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the West Charlton United Presbyterian Church memorial fund, 1331 Sacandaga Road, West Charlton, NY 12010 or Community Hospice, 295 Valley View Blvd., Rensselaer, NY 12144.
