John Mason

John Mason was the former and longest-serving mayor of the City of Fairfax, and was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, friend, soldier, and public servant. John was born on Sunday, January 27, 1935, in Springfield, Massachusetts, the first child of Anders and Magda Mason. Anders Mason was born in Sweden (1903) and Magda was born in Denmark (1900).

John attended Classical High School in Springfield, earned the rank of Eagle Scout with Troop 30 at Trinity Methodist Church, and spent many rewarding years as a scout at Camp Woronoak before matriculating at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where he studied political science and enrolled in its ROTC program. Upon graduation in 1956, John was commissioned in the United States Army in its Armored Division, with assignments at Fort Benning, Fort Bliss, and a three-year posting to Hawaii, followed by an assignment to Fort Hood in central Texas, where he met and subsequently married Jeanette Funk on May 11, 1963. In 1965, he served his initial Vietnam tour as an advisor to a Vietnamese railway security battalion, followed by thee-years as a Senior Armor Instructor at the United States Military Academy at West Point. His second Vietnam assignment in 1970 included command of the 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry, followed by a command tour with the 5th Battalion, 68th Armor, 8th Infantry Division, and as G3, 1st Armored Division in Germany. John’s final assignment was as Assistant Director, Operations and Readiness, Office of Deputy Chief of Staff, HQDA. He retired as a colonel in 1976. Following his military service, John served as vice president at SAIC as Director of the Transportation Policy and Analysis Center. In 2001, he served as chairperson of the national board of the American Metropolitan Planning Organization (AMPO).

John became a citizen activist in the City of Fairfax, serving as President of the-then Old Lee Hills Civic Association, and then a member of the city’s Planning Commission before serving four years on the Fairfax City Council (1986-1990) and subsequently serving as mayor for 12 years (1990-2002). Subsequently, he served as the first executive director of the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority and later the chief executive officer of the Workhouse Arts Center. He also served on the boards of the National Capital Area Chapter of the American Red Cross, the National Capital Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America, the Fairfax Symphony, the Arts Council of Fairfax County, Fall for the Book Festival, and Mason Housing at George Mason University.

John is survived by his wife Jeanette of 60 years, son John, Jr. (Karen), daughter Joanna, and son Jeff (Billie Jo) four grandchildren, and two great grandchildren, as well as his brother, Karl (Nancy).

Visitation will be on Friday, March 1 from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m. at the Demaine Funeral Home, 10565 Main St, Fairfax, VA 22030. The funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 2 at 11:00 a.m. at Fairfax United Methodist Church, 10300 Stratford Ave, Fairfax, VA 22030, followed by a private burial at the Fairfax City Cemetery. A reception will be held immediately following at the Old Town Hall, 3999 University Drive, Fairfax, Virginia 22030.