John became a volunteer in 2014, shortly after returning to the Gainesville area from his legal career in Clearwater. He assisted in preparing estate planning documents for our clients and joined other volunteer attorneys in providing advance directives at senior centers in some of our rural communities.

John also became a mainstay with our Ask-A-Lawyer team of volunteer attorneys. The project, a combined effort of Three Rivers Legal Services, Southern Legal Counsel and the Eighth Judicial Circuit Bar Association, focused on providing legal assistance to those facing homelessness.

“He told me that the reason he liked Ask-A-Lawyer is that it reminded him of his early days of practicing law when you had to be willing to do anything and learn anything. So that’s why he was always willing to take on any case or issue we were able to throw at him. I always really appreciated that. I will miss him,” said Kirsten Anderson, attorney with SLC.

John spoke with many of the Ask-A-Lawyer clients about their entitlement to monies as heirs of estates. Often estranged from their families, the clients were not in communication with the representatives and not able to access their inheritances. In one instance, John was able to help a disabled and homeless woman access her $9000 inheritance, enabling her to find housing and move forward.

He also assisted an elderly widower who struggled to communicate with the mortgage company since his wife had handled all previous involvement. At the point he approached us at Ask-A-Lawyer, he was at risk of defaulting on the mortgage. John worked with the client and the company to straighten out the payment process, allowing him to stay current in his payments.

John was an “incredibly nice and a big-hearted man” said Ray Brady, EJCBA board member and Ask-A-Lawyer team member. “John was so humble and sweet and never boasted,” noted Peg O’Connor, another AAL team member.

John joined the Florida Bar about 70 years ago and truly used his legal skills for the good of the people. He will be greatly missed.