John Lewis Pride passed away peacefully on September 22nd at home surrounded by family. He was born and raised in Youngstown, Ohio and attended Capital University in Columbus, Ohio, where he was a track star and basketball player. He was inducted into the university’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001. He was also a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, Ohio State University chapter. After college, he relocated to Washington DC to attend graduate school at Howard University and put down roots in the the Metro area that stretched for 60 years. 

John worked for the Federal Government under eight different Presidential administrations, across various departments including the Administration for Developmental Disabilities and the Department of Health and Human Services. As a young field worker in 1966, John travelled through Appalachia to investigate State’s compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act (desegregation) and document conditions of poverty, racism and social strife that were undermining the civil rights movement. This research  informed the landmark Kerner Commission report under President Johnson. After his 35-year career as a U.S civil servant, John retired in 2003 and went on to serve as the Executive Director of The National Practitioners Network for Fathers and Family and as a consultant monitoring Head Start program compliance across the country.            

His career helping vulnerable children, strengthening families and promoting civil rights was emblematic of a lifelong passion for community service. Over the years he volunteered with many organizations and served on various boards including: The Capital University Alumni Association, The Lourie Center, the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, the Montgomery County Association for Hearing Impaired Children, the Montgomery County Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health, Big Brother, the Boys and Girls Club, and his neighbor association at Leisure World. He was also active with the PTA and with coaching multiple local softball, baseball and basketball teams. He donated his money as generously as his time, giving to organizations that supported causes he cared about and to Go Fund Me campaigns to help random strangers whose stories and struggles touched his heart. 

This generosity was a hallmark of his life and the values he both inspired and instilled in his children and the foster kids he and his wife opened their home to. He was good karma personified and the poster child for “”Family Man,” and such a sterling father that, in 1993, he was recognized by the National Urban League as one of the “Top 50 Fathers” in the Metro DC area. 

John never met a stranger, as they say. It’s nearly impossible to properly capture his affable, easy going spirit, which was a draw to all he met and resulted in many deep, abiding and lifelong friendships with people too numerous to name. If you were in his company, you were likely to hear him bragging about his children and grandchildren, suggesting a BBQ spot you “must try,” recommending a TV show, or telling you a joke. If you were very lucky, you caught him manning his grill on a hot summer day, brushing his world famous secret sauce on slabs of ribs and could enjoy the delicious results.

In a world of more, better, faster, it’s a valuable lesson that it was always the simple things that made John happiest– reading The Washington Post every morning, a monthly meet up with his bridge group, a hot pizza from Sole D’ Italia or Rubino’s, or a winning hand in Texas Hold ‘Em. He’d remember heartbreaking poker hands from decades ago, but if poker were life, he was dealt a full house.

John is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years, Sallie; his children: Jacqueline, Curtis, Christine, Leonda, and their families, including seven grandchildren; as well as a bevy of cherished extended family members and devoted canine companion, Rusty.

He was predeceased by his parents, Sippie and Lensie Pride and brother Douglas Pride.

Donations in John’s honor can be made to the Make-A-Wish Foundation or St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital to continue his legacy of serving and giving.