John was born August 22, 1938, in Youngstown, Ohio, where his father was a coach and his mother a teacher. After high school, John moved to Missoula where he jumped 1961-62 and attended the University of Montana majoring in Forestry. Shortly after completing the 1962 season, John and his friend, a fellow smokejumper began a road trip back to Youngstown. They were involved in an auto accident September 19,1962, near Pontiac, Illinois, and John, 24, was killed.