Pittsford, NY: January 5, 2020. John Howard Looney passed peacefully at home, surrounded by family on his 85th birthday. John is survived by his wife and best friend of 62 years, Cynthia; children Jill (Richard) Kidder, Stephen Looney, and Jenifer (Tony) Higgins; 3 grandchildren, Audrey, Zack and Zoey; sister Laura Sheridan, and many cousins. A graduate of the Bullis School and Washington University with a degree in Mathematics, John was employed as a Design Engineer for 30 years at Xerox Corporation, where he earned multiple patents. He also served in the US Army during the Berlin Airlift.
Kind, modest, hardworking, and even-keeled, John was a keen believer in education, volunteering as a math and reading tutor at Rochester’s School 22 on Saturday mornings. He was also devoted to the First Unitarian Church community where he was a 50+ year member, participating in a variety of buildings and grounds projects, as well as singing in the choir and countless musical productions. Music was a passion of his, evidenced by his dedication to the Eastman Community Music School’s New Horizon’s Band, where he learned to play the trombone at age 75. Sailing on Lake Ontario and traveling the world with Cynthia also gave him great joy in his retirement. He will be remembered and missed for his gentle demeanor, appreciation for thoughtful design, and clever sense of humor.
A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, February 1st at 11:00 am at the First Unitarian Church, 220 Winton Road South, Rochester. Charitable donations in lieu of flowers can be made to the following: First Unitarian Church Building Fund, Eastman Community Music School, LifetimeCare Hospice