John was born and raised in the Gulf Coast town of Pass Christian, Mississippi,  a town demolished more than once by hurricanes. He served in the Navy for 23 years as a flight engineer on the P-3, and he wore many hats as he moved upward through the ranks. He traveled extensively in Europe, South America, Asia, and the South Pacific, and worked with his counterparts in those countries, as well as in both management and public relations positions in the Navy. He retired from the Navy in 1987 at the rank of Master Chief.  After retiring from the Navy, he started a marine products business in Jacksonville, Florida, which he operated for ten years before sailing to the Caribbean with his wife, Judy.

During their years of sailing in the islands, Judy and John found ways to lend a helping hand with local projects, such as raising money for Christmas gifts for needy children in Trinidad, and collecting building materials and first aid supplies to ship to hurricane devastated Grenada.

Judy and John have three grandchildren, Nora, Liam and Elinor Grace, living in Silver Spring with their parents. Their arrival brought John and Judy home from their idyllic life aboard their schooner, Thaleia. They now reside in downtown Frederick.