John M. Mead passed away peacefully, with his family at his side, at the UVM Medical Center on Nov. 5, 2016, at the age of 92. He most recently resided at Pillsbury South in S. Burlington, having moved to Vermont late last year from his longtime home in Queensbury N.Y.
Born Oct. 26, 1924, in Schenectady, N.Y., John was the eldest son of the late Milton S. Mead and Mary Jane Drake. In June of 1943, the day after John graduated from Nott Terrace High School, he enlisted in the service, enrolled in the Air Cadet Program. Training for the aviation cadet program took place at the University of Missouri. After successfully completing that program he qualified to be accepted into pilot school, but the need was great for navigators at the time. In August of 1944, John graduated from flight school as a navigator, earning his wings, and at the age of 19, he was transporting planes to troops all over the world – with the stars and a compass as his only guide. After WWII ended, John would remain in the reserves and was also accepted at Paul Smith’s College. Although Paul Smith’s would not be where he graduated from, it was where he met the love of his life, Marguerite A. Stone. John transferred to the University of Missouri to pursue a business degree and Marguerite soon left Paul Smith’s to follow. They were married on Jan. 3, 1948.  John was recalled to active duty for the Korean conflict in 1951. He was supposed to ship out to Korea for 18 months but his orders changed and he remained stateside, ultimately assigned to an Air Refueling Squadron in Salina, Kansas. At first, they thought that the military might make a good career, but thought otherwise after John had to parachute out over the Arizona desert during a mid-air refueling mishap. John was discharged in 1955 and the family moved to Marcellus, where they stayed until 1978 and raised their family of three girls.
John was an auditor and vice-president of First Trust & Deposit Co. in Syracuse until 1978. He was an avid golfer (finally getting his first hole-in-one at the age of 90!), a Little League coach, and Optimist Club member (always playing Santa Claus at the annual Christmas Party). In 1978, John and Marguerite moved to Queensbury, N.Y., where he continued on as vice-president and compliance officer for KeyBank National, which had taken over First Trust & Deposit Co. Summers were spent with family and friends on Skaneateles Lake and Lake George. John was a long-time member of the Skaneateles Country Club and later on, the Glens Falls Country Club. He loved his family, loved music, loved to dance, loved to golf, loved a good party and the holidays, with Thanksgiving the most cherished of all-everyone was welcome at the table.
John was predeceased by his parents, Milton and Jane, his wife, Marguerite in 2003 and his brother and sister, Daniel Mead and Elizabeth (Lizzy) Williams, both this past year.
John is survived by his daughter Ann M. Foreman, son-in-law William H. Foreman, grandson John M. Foreman and his wife Darcy, great-grandson Henry S. Foreman; granddaughter Alexis H. Foreman; daughter Jane S. Mead and partner Stacey Barnett; daughter Mary A. Mead , son-in-law Moe Harvey and grandsons Thomas S. Deckman, William L. Bown and Alexander M. Bown. John is also survived by several nieces and nephews and their families.
The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the staff on McClure 6 for the tremendous care that was given to John. It was really extraordinary and so very much appreciated by us.
John will be honored with private military service in the spring for family and friends at the home of Mary A. Mead in Charlotte, VT.