John Lovetere of McKinney, Texas passed Sunday, August 9th, 2020 at the fulfilled age of 91 with COVID-19 among other complications. John was born in Oak Park, Illinois May 4, 1929. He served 4 years in the US Air Force from 1948 through 1952, through which he met the love of his life, Mary Bambridge of Wisbech, England. They married in Chicago, Illinois in 1952. John then pursued his education and obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Education through Chicago Teachers College, his Master’s degree from the University of Chicago, and then his Ph.D from Northwestern University. He was an educator in Chicago and Skokie, Illinois and then went on to be a Principal and Associate Superintendent in Skokie, Illinois. Additionally, John went on to teach as an Adjunct Professor of Political Science at National College in Evanston, Illinois and at Collin College in McKinney. John and his wife Mary moved to McKinney in 1994. He was a frequent contributor to the “Opinions” page of the Dallas Morning News so that the whole metroplex could share in his thoughts. John was well loved in his community of Stonebridge Ranch, fondly referred to as “Mister Golfer Dude” when spotted walking to the driving range with his driver perched on his shoulders. After Mary’s passing in 2002, John remarried the second love of his life, Harriet Baker Morrison of Sherman, Texas in 2003.
John served on Park and Library boards in Illinois, Holy Family School Board, and the Board of Adjustments in McKinney. He was a consistent member of Rotary, starting in 1974 in Skokie, Illinois, continuing in Wheeling, Illinois, and then in McKinney. He was named a Paul Harris Fellow and also served as president of the McKinney Rotary from 2000-2001. Harriet preceded him in death in January of 2018. John remarried in July 2018 to his wife’s personal care aide, Thabiso Chidawanyika of Zimbabwe, Frisco, and Prosper.
He was preceded in death by his first wife Mary Lovetere, his second wife Harriet Lovetere, and step-son Alan (Abe) Morrison. John is survived by the daughters of his first marriage: Jacy Sasaridis of Austin and her husband Yannis, and Vanessa Hirt of McKinney and her husband Tom; the step-children of his second marriage Shawn Hayden of San Antonio and her husband Rod, Kaelan Cardenas of Sherman and her husband Alvin, and his step-daughter-in-law Ataloa Morrison of Fort Worth. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Christine Sasaridis of San Diego and her husband Ryan Georgianna, Dino Sasaridis of Austin and his wife Elizabeth Roehm, Kathryn Kitchen of Oklahoma City and her husband Phillip, Allison Hendrickson of Oklahoma City her husband Ryan, and Samantha Theis of Sachse and her husband William. Additionally, his surviving step-grandchildren are Katie Bracher of Dallas and her husband Ben, Emily Stewart of Anna, Zach Hayden of San Antonio, Jenna Stewart of Anna, Grady Morrison of Fort Worth, and Ella Morrison of Fort Worth. Lastly, John is survived by his 7 great-grandchildren and 1 step-great-grandchild.
John’s family expresses their deepest gratitude to the employees and volunteers of VITAS in Carrollton, Tx for making his final days peaceful and comfortable. They are true angels on earth.
A private interment will be held at St. Peters Episcopal Church with other services announced later.
Memorial donations can be made to the Episcopal Relief Foundation , St. Peters Episcopal Church, 400 N. College Street, McKinney, Texas 75069 or The McKinney Rotary Foundation, PO Box 552, McKinney, TX 75070.