John attended Gonzaga University and the University of Washington. He graduated from the UW with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature in 1953.
As an 18-year-old he joined the Navy and served in the Aleutian Islands in Adak, Alaska during the last year of World War II. He was also in active service with the Sixth Army in Korea from 1951 to 1952.
His maternal great grandfather was David Thomas Denny, one of the first pioneers to arrive in Seattle. David Thomas Denny had 8 children, one of whom was John’s grandfather David T Denny II (1867 – 1939). John’s grandfather married Nellie Elizabeth Graham and they had three children: Inez Louisa Denny, Walter Claude Denny and D. T. Denny III (Tommy). Louisa married John Charles Whiteaker in 1918 and they had one son, John Denny Whiteaker born 1926.
At the large Denny family reunion in 2010 at the Rolland Denny Mansion, John was able to display family photographs, papers and memorabilia acquired by his mother. Shortly after this event he donated this collection to MOHAI.
His paternal great grandfather John C. Whiteaker was the first Governor of Oregon 1859 -1862. John also donated family photographs, an autobiography and a diary written by his grandfather to the Oregon Historical Society.
John was a private, thoughtful, understated man of few words. Throughout his life he made generous gifts to many different charities. Seattle Children’s Hospital was named as the beneficiary of his estate.
He loved music, and opera particularly. He enjoyed boats and sailing. He loved animals. He was a sharp dresser. He followed current affairs intently and was a shrewd observer of human nature and society. He was a talented cartoonist. He loved black licorice and dark chocolate.
For the last ten years of his life John lived at Foss Home and Village, where he was shown affection and care by the residents and staff alike. Despite increasing deafness and challenges, he was stoic. His wonderful sense of humor stayed with him through his very last days.
John will be privately interred near his parents at Washelli Cemetery, 11111 Aurora Ave N. Seattle, WA 98133.
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