John W. Sutton

Coach John “Wimpy” Sutton passed away peacefully on December 11th at the home of his daughter Kathleen, with all three of his daughters by his side. Wimpy would have been 91 on December 26th. He remained sweet, funny and thoughtful until the end of his life.

He was dearly loved at the Beaches for his tireless commitment to the community. Born in Jacksonville in December 26th, 1926, Wimpy spent his summers at the Beaches with his mother and grandmother, working at his great grandmother’s place, Perkins Bath House. His first job as a teenager, selling hamburgers at Pee Wee’s Bar on the boardwalk, earned him the nickname “Wimpy” (think Popeye). Rumor has it, he ate more than he sold. Calling his “kids” Hamburgers and Hotdogs was his favorite term of endearment. We hear that there are many proud hamburgers and hotdogs still walking around today.

At age 15, Wimpy met the love of his life, Bobbie Macdonell. As a young man his favorite way to impress Bobbie was to walk on his hands up and down the ramp in front of the Jax Beach Life Guard Station. They were happily married for 61 years until the time of Bobbies death in 2009. Wimpy and Bobbie had three daughters, Candy Ross (David), Karen Foresta, Kathleen Rosskopf(Erik). At the time of his death. Wimpy was proud of his 7 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. He was adored by his family and will be greatly missed. Survivors include his brother Jimmy’s children Greg Sutton and Lynn Sutton Mhoon. Also, two wonderful sisters-in-law, whom he regarded as sisters, E.j. Macdonell Taylor(Rob) and Janet Macdonell(John Clancy), along with many wonderful nieces and nephews with whom he was very close.

Wimpy served in the Life Saving Corp as did both of his parents and his brother. For years he held the record for the most saves. One monumental day was July 4th, 1947, when he rescued 8 swimmers (6 men and 2 women) from drowning.

After serving in the Army for two years, he attended the University of Florida and remained a proud Gator for the rest of his life.

In 1951 Wimpy began his career at Fletcher High School, where he taught until in 1982 leaving a remarkable legacy of inspiration. Later he served on the Duval County Schoolboard and a liaison for Ryan’s Family Steakhouse. Wimpy was always cutting edge. He started a community school exercise class long before “working out” was cool. His class was loving known as Wimpy’s Wonders and consisted of participants ages 10-75+.

His 9th grade Science students still tell stories of him standing on his desktop teaching the human anatomy. Wimpy also encouraged and developed athletes in football and basketball but was most well know for his swimmers’ successes. He coached his Fletcher swimmers to 179 consecutive dual meet wins, 20 consecutive conference championships, 15 consecutive county and district championships and TWO consecutive State Class A championships. One of Wimpy’s talented swimmers, Ken Walsh, went on the become a double gold medalist in the 1968 Olympics.

Wimpy was selected as a Beaches Jaycee Young Man of the Year in 1955 and a Jacksonville Sports Hall of Fame inductee in 1977. Wimpy and Bobbie were well known throughout the United Stated for their

dancing and became Living Legends of Dance in 1997. Most recently Wimpy was honored by the Beaches Historical Society as Living Legend in 2016.

In 1954 he and Coach Don Jarrett opened the first Coaches Tree Lot and 2nd Avenue North and 63 years later it is still a Beaches landmark.

Wimpy was an avid fisherman and shrimper, know all over for his “Candy” boat. He wrote the fishing column for the Beaches Leader for 40 years as well as having a local radio fishing show.

Along with the late Reverend John Hibbard, he founded the First Christian Church of the Beaches, where he served as an elder, youth leader and Elder Emeritus.

He was also one of the founders of the Beaches Educational Foundation. He helped start the Beaches Aquatic Club which put swimming in Jacksonville on the map. At any time at Fletcher High School you can take Sutton Lane to the John “Wimpy” Sutton pool.

Wimpy led by example with unwavering moral conviction. He will be sorely missed by former students, friends and family. You can read more at www.donmabry.org/wimpy.pdf.

The celebration of his life will be on December 30th at 11am, at Beaches Chapel Church, 610 Florida Blvd., Neptune Beach, FL with reception hosted by Wimpy's church, First Christian Church of the Beaches, to follow at the Beaches Chapel Church. Graveside will be private. If you would like to make a charitable donation, our family supports: www.generationrescue.org and Wild Life Critters Circle of Life Rehabilitation Center www.wlcritters.com.