John William Aitken passed away Wednesday, April 17, 2019 after a long and courageous battle against cancer. He was surrounded by loved ones in the home that he designed and built. He was 61 years old.
He was the loving husband of Barbara McCann, whom he married in July 1997, and the father of Jack Aitken.
John was born June 15, 1957 in Niskayuna, N.Y. to Nancy Aitken Ball and the late John Aitken. John graduated from Halstead High School in Yonkers, N.Y. and earned his bachelor’s degree from Lyndon State College in Lyndonville, Vt. John was a kind and loving person who always offered knowledgeable support and advice to family and friends. He was an avid skier, a world traveler, a craftsman, and an animal lover.
John was a disc jockey at the student-run radio station at Lyndon State, and after college he continued his career in radio in Rutland, Vt. and Morgantown, W.Va. It was on Cape Cod where John started two radio stations for which he was the owner, president, general manager, and disc jockey.
During his life, John skied mountains across North America, including a heli-skiing trip in the Purcell Mountain range of British Columbia and frequent trips to Vail, Colo. At Stratton Mountain in Vermont, he spent years teaching skiing to newcomers, both young and old, in a patient and enjoyable manner. He passed on his love of skiing to his son, Jack, grandchildren, Alice and Timmy, and other close family and friends.
Through years of experience fixing and repairing his own properties, John learned how to renovate homes. This knowledge and passion carried into his craftsmanship as a property manager and real estate agent.
He will be remembered for his generosity and infectious smile, spirit, humor and loving nature. His legacy will live on in all of those that he taught and inspired.
John is survived by his wife Barbara; his son, Jack and wife Daphne; his mother, Nancy and husband Jim; his brother, Tom and wife Molly and their children, Lindsay and Chris; Barbara’s daughter, Tiffany and husband Kirk and their children, Alice and Timothy; Barbara’s son, Tyler and wife Lauren and their son, Charlie; his former wife, Linda and mother of Jack; his two dogs, Rosie and Remmy; and Gussie the cat.
He is loved dearly and will be forever missed.
A service will be held at 2 p.m. May 1, 2019 at the Oxley-Heard Funeral Home, located at 1305 Atlantic Ave. in Fernandina Beach, Fla.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to G.R.E.A.T Rescue of NE Florida Inc., P.O. Box 600878, Jacksonville, FL 32260-0878. Contributions can be made via check or online at greatrescue.org/donate.
Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors