Obituary
April 3, 2021
by Russ Button
John Thomas Kinney, devoted son, husband, father, friend, musician, and teacher, passed away peacefully in his sleep Thursday, March 11, 2021. John was a lifelong San Franciscan, and son of Thomas and Phyllis Kinney. He was born November 12, 1951 in San Francisco. He attended public schools, James Lick Middle School and Lowell High School, and remained close to many of his high school friends. John earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Indiana University, pursuing studies in Trombone, and a Master of Arts from the Juilliard School.
He was a Life Member of the American Federation of Musicians’ Local 6, and played in many local musical groups including San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park Band, Horns-a-Plenty Brass Band, and regional symphony orchestras. Recently, he enjoyed playing with and organizing various musical groups in The Family Club.
John worked in a trucking firm in which he was owner and partner until his mother became unable to care for herself. He spent many years caring for his mother who had contracted polio as a child. He also cared for his aunt Marion Brown in her final years.
John met, fell in love with, and married Maria Luisa Mondragon in 1989. They traveled many times to visit her parents in Michoacán, Mexico. John and Luisa maintained a house in Mexico City as well. Their son John Mondragon Kinney lives in San Jose and is the owner and manager of Kinney Windows San Jose.
John was a patient and insightful person, who rarely got angry. He loved to read both fiction and nonfiction. John would complete several books a month. He was incredibly smart but also incredibly humble. He had an open mind and was always willing to look at a problem from all angles. John will be remembered as a true gentleman, kind and caring, reserved yet
loving a good joke, and a true and loyal friend.
A memorial for John is being planned for some time in June. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to John’s favorite charities, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (stjude.org), or the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (sfspca.org).
He was a Life Member of the American Federation of Musicians’ Local 6, and played in many local musical groups including San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park Band, Horns-a-Plenty Brass Band, and regional symphony orchestras. Recently, he enjoyed playing with and organizing various musical groups in The Family Club.
John worked in a trucking firm in which he was owner and partner until his mother became unable to care for herself. He spent many years caring for his mother who had contracted polio as a child. He also cared for his aunt Marion Brown in her final years.
John met, fell in love with, and married Maria Luisa Mondragon in 1989. They traveled many times to visit her parents in Michoacán, Mexico. John and Luisa maintained a house in Mexico City as well. Their son John Mondragon Kinney lives in San Jose and is the owner and manager of Kinney Windows San Jose.
John was a patient and insightful person, who rarely got angry. He loved to read both fiction and nonfiction. John would complete several books a month. He was incredibly smart but also incredibly humble. He had an open mind and was always willing to look at a problem from all angles. John will be remembered as a true gentleman, kind and caring, reserved yet
loving a good joke, and a true and loyal friend.
A memorial for John is being planned for some time in June. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to John’s favorite charities, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (stjude.org), or the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (sfspca.org).