John Frank Laughton

John was born in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin on February 14, 1950. He played Little League baseball and was on the golf team at Beaver Dam High School. Since his youth, John knew that he wanted to be an architect. He achieved his dream, graduating with a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Illinois, Champaign – Urbana in 1973. After graduating, he joined the Peace Corps and served as an architect in Yazd, Iran, from 1973 to 1975.

John met Maryann while studying at the U of I and they were married on December 13, 1975 in Oak Lawn, Illinois. John and Maryann had two daughters, Elizabeth and Sara, who were among his greatest joys.

John worked in his chosen career for his entire life as a registered architect and member of the AIA. In the Chicago area he was employed at ISD, Inc; Kaltenbach and Ferenc, and Sidney H. Morris and Associates, a Division of Krusinski, Gellick and Foran. During that time, he and Maryann started Konya Kilims, importing Turkish tribal kilims. Upon relocating from the Midwest to the East Coast, he worked for RWK International and Pace Design in Washington, DC and McLean, Virginia before becoming a founding partner and Principal at Architecture + Design Associates, Inc. in Fairfax, Virginia, for over 28 years. He also served on the Board of Architectural Review for the City of Fairfax for many years and received an award for his service.

During his life, he was involved in timing and scoring for the Sports Car Club of America at Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin; YMCA Indian Princesses; Herndon youth tee ball and softball as a coach and umpire; and as a volunteer usher for the National Park Service at the Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, Vienna, Virginia. John loved golf, reading, travel, and the Green Bay Packers.

John is preceded in death by his parents Frank and Margaret and sister Barbara.

John is survived by his wife Maryann (Miernicki), daughters Elizabeth (Aaron West) and Sara (Carl Schmieg), brother David (Kathleen), brothers-in-law Michael Miernicki (Susan deceased) and Stephen J. Miernicki (Migdalia), sister-in-law Carol Miernicki, grandchildren Kora and Ronan Schmieg, niece Annette Graves, grandnephew Jack, and nephews Jason Schliewe, Alexander Laughton (Kaila), grandnephew Lucas, Daniel Laughton, Gregory Miernicki (Khine), Stephen M. Miernicki, Kevin Miernicki (Beth) and grandniece Ellis.

A Memorial service will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. on Monday, October 23, 2023 at Demaine Funeral Home, 10565 Main Street, Fairfax, VA 22030. A private burial service will be held at Fairfax Memorial Park.

Flowers may be sent to Demaine Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may also be given to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or to Shriners Hospitals for Children.

Selections from the Portfolio of John F. Laughton, Architect:

1. Beaver Dam Central Business District Revitalization Proposal

Beaver Dam, Wisconsin

2. Zarch Community Library

Zarch, Iran

3. Public Bath

Yazd, Iran

4. Blood Donation Clinic

Bafqh, Iran

5. Bafqh Motel

Bafqh, Iran

6. Lyons Savings & Loan Branch Office, Riverside Train Station

Riverside, Illinois

7. Southtown Mall

Ft. Wayne, Indiana

8. Oakwood Plaza – 11781 Lee Jackson Memorial Highway, Fairfax, VA 22033 (1982) (next to Marriott at Fair Oaks Mall)

9. Greenwood Plaza – 12015 Lee Jackson Memorial Highway, Fairfax, VA 22033 (1985) (ManTech Building on the back side of Fair Oaks Mall across from food court)

10. Gatewood Plaza – 10201 Fairfax Boulevard, Fairfax, VA 22030 (1985) (on Route 50 east of Toyota dealership)

(over)

11. Sherwood Plaza – 9990 Fairfax Boulevard, Fairfax, VA 22030 (1985) (on Route 50, set on angle, across from entrance drive to Fairfax High School)

12. Redwood Plaza I, II and III – 10560, 10580 and 10600 Arrowhead Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030 (1986) (visible from Rte 66 exit at Hwy 123)

13. WillowWood Plaza 1 - 10300 (1988), 2 - 10306 (1988), 3 - 10304 (1999) and 4 - 10302 (2000) Eaton Place, Fairfax, VA 22030 (The offices of Architecture + Design Associates, Inc. were located in Bldg. 4 – 10302 and Bldg. 2 – 10306)

14. There is a building on the Dulles Access Road that John would not like to acknowledge due to interference and changes made by the developer. Like Howard Roark in Ayn Rand’s The Fountainhead, he wanted to see it blown up.

John also worked on many large and complex interior projects, including SCIFs and data centers, for clients such as ManTech, BAE, Northrop Grumman, Zeta Associates, and National Association of Counties.