This memorial website was created in memory of our loved one, John Kinney, 69 years old, born on November 12, 1951, and passed away on March 11, 2021. We will remember him forever.
There will be a memorial for John in June, 2021. Details to follow. Stay tuned.
There will be a memorial for John in June, 2021. Details to follow. Stay tuned.
It was my good fortune to meet John back in the 10th grade in band and orchestra. He was an outstanding musician and a true gentleman, then, and throughout his life. I recall his reliable and sonorous sound in many school concerts and subsequent outside performances. Years later we would often run into each other while grocery shopping at the Diamond Heights Safeway. It was always a pleasure to stop and talk with him, not only about music but about many aspects of life. Great memories - thank you, John.
I first met John in 7th grade at James Lick Junior High School. We called them "Junior High Schools" back then, not "Middle Schools." We were in math class together when the math teacher pulled a tuft of hair out of my head one time when I got out of line. John never let me forget that.
John and I have played together in various groups ever since high school. I ran a couple different big bands over that time as well as the little brass band I have now. You can't play music that well unless you bring your love to it, and in bands like this, it's a shared experience. That's why it's such a blessing to be a life-long musician, and such a blessing to have played with John over all these years.
At our 20 year high school reunion, I was putting together a band of players from our class to run the old game band music for the reunion party. We had enough players to do it, but John refused to come to the reunion. This was a bit before John and Luisa found love with each other. He was a little depressed at the time and just didn't want to see anyone.
The reunion went fine and finished up around 11:00 PM. So I gathered up all of the players and we drove out to John's house on Duncan Street, near Diamond. If John wasn't going to come to the party, we were going to bring the party to him.
It was nearly 1:00 AM when we showed up and rang his doorbell. I knew he wouldn't answer, so we got our our instruments and hit "Strike Up The Band."
John heard us of course, but figured that if he didn't do anything, that we'd go away. Hah!!! No chance. By this point, lights were coming up and down the block, people were sticking their heads out the window, etc. When we launched into the school pep song, he knew he was licked and came down to open the door and invite us in.
We all had a great time and John was especially thankful that we came. We all loved John and he loved us. We still do.
John and I have played together in various groups ever since high school. I ran a couple different big bands over that time as well as the little brass band I have now. You can't play music that well unless you bring your love to it, and in bands like this, it's a shared experience. That's why it's such a blessing to be a life-long musician, and such a blessing to have played with John over all these years.
At our 20 year high school reunion, I was putting together a band of players from our class to run the old game band music for the reunion party. We had enough players to do it, but John refused to come to the reunion. This was a bit before John and Luisa found love with each other. He was a little depressed at the time and just didn't want to see anyone.
The reunion went fine and finished up around 11:00 PM. So I gathered up all of the players and we drove out to John's house on Duncan Street, near Diamond. If John wasn't going to come to the party, we were going to bring the party to him.
It was nearly 1:00 AM when we showed up and rang his doorbell. I knew he wouldn't answer, so we got our our instruments and hit "Strike Up The Band."
John heard us of course, but figured that if he didn't do anything, that we'd go away. Hah!!! No chance. By this point, lights were coming up and down the block, people were sticking their heads out the window, etc. When we launched into the school pep song, he knew he was licked and came down to open the door and invite us in.
We all had a great time and John was especially thankful that we came. We all loved John and he loved us. We still do.
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Recent Tributes
It was my good fortune to meet John back in the 10th grade in band and orchestra. He was an outstanding musician and a true gentleman, then, and throughout his life. I recall his reliable and sonorous sound in many school concerts and subsequent outside performances. Years later we would often run into each other while grocery shopping at the Diamond Heights Safeway. It was always a pleasure to stop and talk with him, not only about music but about many aspects of life. Great memories - thank you, John.
I first met John in 7th grade at James Lick Junior High School. We called them "Junior High Schools" back then, not "Middle Schools." We were in math class together when the math teacher pulled a tuft of hair out of my head one time when I got out of line. John never let me forget that.
John and I have played together in various groups ever since high school. I ran a couple different big bands over that time as well as the little brass band I have now. You can't play music that well unless you bring your love to it, and in bands like this, it's a shared experience. That's why it's such a blessing to be a life-long musician, and such a blessing to have played with John over all these years.
At our 20 year high school reunion, I was putting together a band of players from our class to run the old game band music for the reunion party. We had enough players to do it, but John refused to come to the reunion. This was a bit before John and Luisa found love with each other. He was a little depressed at the time and just didn't want to see anyone.
The reunion went fine and finished up around 11:00 PM. So I gathered up all of the players and we drove out to John's house on Duncan Street, near Diamond. If John wasn't going to come to the party, we were going to bring the party to him.
It was nearly 1:00 AM when we showed up and rang his doorbell. I knew he wouldn't answer, so we got our our instruments and hit "Strike Up The Band."
John heard us of course, but figured that if he didn't do anything, that we'd go away. Hah!!! No chance. By this point, lights were coming up and down the block, people were sticking their heads out the window, etc. When we launched into the school pep song, he knew he was licked and came down to open the door and invite us in.
We all had a great time and John was especially thankful that we came. We all loved John and he loved us. We still do.
John and I have played together in various groups ever since high school. I ran a couple different big bands over that time as well as the little brass band I have now. You can't play music that well unless you bring your love to it, and in bands like this, it's a shared experience. That's why it's such a blessing to be a life-long musician, and such a blessing to have played with John over all these years.
At our 20 year high school reunion, I was putting together a band of players from our class to run the old game band music for the reunion party. We had enough players to do it, but John refused to come to the reunion. This was a bit before John and Luisa found love with each other. He was a little depressed at the time and just didn't want to see anyone.
The reunion went fine and finished up around 11:00 PM. So I gathered up all of the players and we drove out to John's house on Duncan Street, near Diamond. If John wasn't going to come to the party, we were going to bring the party to him.
It was nearly 1:00 AM when we showed up and rang his doorbell. I knew he wouldn't answer, so we got our our instruments and hit "Strike Up The Band."
John heard us of course, but figured that if he didn't do anything, that we'd go away. Hah!!! No chance. By this point, lights were coming up and down the block, people were sticking their heads out the window, etc. When we launched into the school pep song, he knew he was licked and came down to open the door and invite us in.
We all had a great time and John was especially thankful that we came. We all loved John and he loved us. We still do.
Gallery
john with luisa, jack, eugene, david, eliot, Thanksgiving 2006
John on top of Mount Tam
John with David & Tom Powell, Barnabe Peak, Samuel P Taylor Park
John resting after cooking a great turkey, 682 Duncan, Thanksgiving 2008
John and Jack, Thanksgiving in Carson City, 1994
david, john and ky wyatt, emigrant meadow in background
John and Luisa, Mexico City, August 2005
John and David at Far View Ranch, July 1963
John with David, his brother Jim and dad Lincoln, Little Carson Falls, April 1979
Recent stories
Remembrances
I went to high school with John and we played in the same remarkable orchestra at Lowell, he in the horn section ,and I in the violin section. Because I also played piano, he asked me to accompany him on the Hindemith Sonata for trombone and piano for a regional competition. He was the master, and I faked it, but we went onto the finals. I would recount that experience with a smile as it recalled our sense of youthful optimism. Though we diverged in our paths after graduation, I remember him with great fondness for his kindness, intelligence, and dedication to music even at those early years.