Posted by: thepinetree on 07/29/2014 03:15 PM
Updated by: thepinetree on 07/29/2014 03:18 PM
Expires: 01/01/2019 12:00 AM
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R. John Pratt Oct. 29, 1931 – July 28, 2014 Resident of the State of California
Murphys, CA...John Pratt of San Diego, California passed away on July 28, 2014, after a short illness, surrounded by his loving family. A true citizen of California, John was born in Hollywood and grew up in Oakland. He lived throughout the state during his lifetime. He attended Piedmont High School and was an all-around athlete, lettering in football, basketball and baseball. Following high school, John served his country with distinction in the Korean War and then married his high school sweetheart and the love of his life, Margot Marie Thomson. They had a magical life together, celebrating 56 blissful years of marriage, before her passing in 2008. They were thrilled to receive a Proclamation from the California State Assembly honoring them on their 50th wedding anniversary. John and Margot traveled the world together, culminating in their exciting last adventure, a journey to Machu Picchu, Peru, followed by a trip on the Amazon River. They raised a rambunctious family of four children, Bill (Sherry), Terry (Mark), Steve (Laura) and Tom (Kimberly). John left a wonderful legacy for his children and was blessed with 9 grandchildren: Rochelle, Casey, Shawna, Lindsey, Christopher, Mark, Nicholas, Thomson and Hutton; and 6 great grandchildren: Vincenzo, Giovanni, Shadrach, Moriah, Harper and Charlie...
John was an accomplished businessman, rising to Executive Vice President and West Region head of the global insurance broker, Aon. Notably, he established the first physician-owned insurance company in California, the Southern California Physicians Insurance Exchange. John was known as an innovator and mentor, and he left a lasting mark on all who knew him in the insurance industry. He was a man of many interests, including community theater. Following his retirement, John appeared in commercials and TV shows. He even had his own Wayne’s World experience as the co-star of the long running Ron and John Show on Calaveras County Community Television. John was known as a “Doer,” attaining leadership positions with numerous civic, charitable and religious organizations. All of these organizations benefited from the "John Pratt touch.”
Above all, John will always be known for his unrelenting optimism—even when faced with challenging circumstances—his amazing sense of humor and quick wit, his uncanny ability to be the life of the party, his incredible ballroom dancing skills and most of all, for being a role model and loving father and grandfather. We will all remember fondly our family trip to Maui to celebrate his 60th Birthday, as well as our family Christmas tradition of his reading of the Night Before Christmas—we never tired of his rendition of Santa, with full costume and belly laugh, for his grandchildren’s benefit. He had an incredible gift of sharing kindness and concern, which he exhibited throughout his life and demonstrated up to the end, touching the lives of his caregivers.
A rosary at St. Patrick’s Church in Murphys, California, will be held on Saturday, August 2nd at 7:00 PM, and a celebration of his life (and all who knew John knows that he wanted a celebration that will go down in memory) will follow at St. Patrick’s Church on Monday, August 4th at 10:00 AM. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Scripps Health Foundation, PO Box 2669, La Jolla, CA 92038 (or call to make a donation by phone at 858-678-6340). Please make sure to indicate the donation is in memory of Ralph John Pratt for Scripps Hospice.
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