On February 10, 2021, John Joseph Cain, Jr.; beloved husband of Rita Cain and the late Marcella Cain (nee Lockard); devoted father of Mary Kathleen Gilmartin and husband Bob, Kelly Elizabeth Kyburz and husband Jeff, and John Christopher Cain and wife Bridgette; step-father of Donna Strickland and husband Jeff Willet, Teresa Wade and husband Josh, and Karen Iannone and husband Greg; loving grandfather of Conner Gilmartin and wife Keeley, Meaghan Gilmartin, Liam Gilmartin, Brianna Kyburz Jones and husband Andrew, Michaela Kyburz Fafa and husband Fawzi, Kirsten Kyburz, Joseph Kyburz, John Kyburz, and Molly Cain; great-grandfather of Evelyn Gilmartin, Marcella Gilmartin, and Zaydun Fafa; brother of Jane Francis Cain and the late Mary Patricia Cain. Also survived by step-grandchildren Jeremy, Austin and wife Julie, Dylan, Danielle, Bella, Owen, and Abby, and extended family and friends.
John can best be described as a devoted, faith filled, humble, and kind family man and friend with a great sense of humor and a keen intellect, and he was loved and admired by all who met him. He was born and raised in a close-knit family in Baltimore, MD, which he considered his lifelong home.
As a young man, he was a hard worker and an athlete, who performed various unskilled labor jobs until he graduated in 1958 from Baltimore Junior College, where he played on the football team. He worked his way through the University of Maryland as a pipe coverer until he was drafted into the Army on February 4, 1960. He married his first wife, Marcella, a year later on February 4, 1961, and they lived at Fort Jackson, SC until his discharge in 1962.
When they returned to Baltimore, John went back to work as a pipe coverer with his father, uncle and cousins. Shortly thereafter, he made a bold decision to change his career path and continue his education at the University of Baltimore in order to provide a better quality of life for his growing family. He worked as an accountant for the IRS and eventually retired from the Social Security Administration, but his true passion was for preparing income tax returns, which he started doing in 1968. He cared deeply for his tax clients and considered them to be his friends, having even served some of them for 53 years.
Throughout his life, John never lost sight of his most important vocation: fostering his relationships with God, family, friends, and strangers. As a young boy, he loved playing hockey with his friends. A 1953 graduate of Mount Saint Joseph High School, John knew the value in attending Mass at least weekly. For years, he and his father attended Colts games as season ticket holders, and after John had children, he spent every Sunday having family dinner at his parents’ house. A committed father, he loved watching his children play sports and getting to know their teammates and friends.
He enjoyed annual family vacations to Ocean City with many dear friends. Among his favorite hobbies were crabbing, boating and fishing with his buddies. Over the years, John did volunteer work in his church, and he spent time as a volunteer with the American Legion and the Knights of Columbus. He shared countless laughs with his group of friends who played cards together every month for over 50 years. He led another group of friends and family as the commissioner of a fantasy football league for over 20 years. Many of his closest friends recall his fondness for Irish music and the fun times he had during his trips to Ireland.
After the sudden loss of Marcella in 1997, John eventually married Rita in 2004; he was extremely grateful to be blessed with two long, loving, and happy marriages. He always enjoyed hanging out with both of them at the bar in his favorite local hotspots, like Jerry D’s and the American Legion, but his favorite place to relax was right on his own back porch, watching tv, reading the newspaper, and enjoying nature. In recent years, he enjoyed doing puzzles with Rita and playing on line games like Words With Friends. He was a patriot who took great pride in his children’s and grandchildren’s careers and accomplishments.
He ultimately succumbed to a long term affliction of heart failure due to asbestos exposure from his pipe covering jobs, but he was resolute in his faith. He prayed daily devotions to Our Lady of Hope, St Jude, St Peregrine, St Dymphna, many other angels and Saints, and the Rosary.
A true Christian patriarch, John steadfastly demonstrated the Christian virtues of faith, hope, and love, and his most significant legacy is undoubtedly the great example of faithfulness he set for his family. He fulfilled his life’s purpose by passing the torch of faith to the next generation, and he will be deeply missed. On his last day, he was surrounded by his loving family, who prayed by his bedside as he sought his heavenly reward.
Relatives and friends will gather at Schimunek Funeral Home, Inc., 9705 Belair Rd., Nottingham MD 21236, on Friday, February 12, 2021, from 3-5 & 7-9 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, February 13, 2021, 12 Noon at St. Joseph Church (Fullerton). Interment Parkwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Pl., Memphis TN 38105. On-line condolences may be left @ www.schimunekfuneralhomes.com
“Well done, my good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:21)
