Lyme, N.H. —
John was born June 7, 1918, in Westbourne, Manitoba, Canada, son of American parents Isaac James and Cora Mae (Figge). John graduated with an A.B. (1942) and an M.D. (1945) from U. Kansas, served as 1st Lt. and Capt. M.C., USAAF (1946-48), pursued post-doctoral studies at Harvard (1948-49) and at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (1950), and completed his residency in ophthalmology at Cincinnati General Hospital (1951-52). Eventual Diplomate of the American Board of Ophthalmology, Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology, and Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, he established his independent ophthalmology practice in the San Francisco East Bay in 1953, where he continued practicing until his retirement four decades later, with a notable hiatus (1955-56) to serve as a volunteer medical missionary at Christian Medical College, Vellore, Madras State, India, performing more than a thousand eye surgeries in that year alone.
In 1958 John met his future wife, Heidi Marie Margaret Frőning, in a camera store while at the World’s Fair in Brussels, Belgium. The couple was married in 1961, and ten months later their one child was born, W. Alan Charles, who eventually became a physician as well. John continued to practice ophthalmology in the ensuing years and served on several hospital staffs in the Bay Area, but he also remained passionately devoted to conservative Christian causes, including leadership in the California Republican Assembly, active in Ronald Reagan’s successful bid for governor (1966) and eventual bid for president (1980) – after his election, President Reagan hailed the CRA as the “conscience of the Republican Party.” Following this triumph came tragedy: in 1985 Heidi’s life was cut short by metastatic colon cancer.
In 1990 John married Carol J. Callouette. He retired from clinical practice and the couple enjoyed an active life, including weekly games of golf with friends, numerous trips abroad, and continued engagement with church and political causes. In early 2016 John joined his son Alan in New Hampshire, where he eventually celebrated his 98th birthday June 7th over a chocolate cake with vanilla icing and raspberries, singing “Happy Birthday” along with his caretaker staff. John passed away in his sleep on October 7th, an hour after having read Matthew 17 with Alan: the Transfiguration of Christ.
He is survived by his second wife Carol (age 98), his son Alan (age 54), and his granddaughter Anya (age 4). A memorial ceremony will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 27th, at Sunset View Cemetery, El Cerrito, Calif.. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be sent in his memory to the Heritage Foundation, Washington, D.C., or to the American Heart Association, Greater Bay Area Office, Oakland,
California. Messages of condolence may be expressed with the family through an online guestbook by visiting www.rickerfuneralhome.com