John Richard Lindquist
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John Richard Lindquist, 78, of Greer, SC and formerly of Akron, OH, passed away peacefully at home on February 24, 2021, surrounded by his wife and children.
Born in Worcester, MA, he was the eldest child of Helen A. (Krafve) and Chester R. Lindquist. He graduated in 1960 from Algonquin Regional High School in Northborough, MA where he played baseball, was president of the Photography Club, class president, and yearbook editor. He went on to earn his B.S. in Chemical Engineering in 1964 from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, where he was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity.
After college, John moved to Akron, OH to begin his career with B.F. Goodrich, where he started in passenger tires and worked his way through the truck, off-the-road, and aircraft tire groups. Some of his career high notes were earning a patent for an Apparatus and Method for Joining Elastomeric Sheet Material, and helping to develop the coating for the tires on the SR-71 Blackbird that is on display at the National Air and Space Museum. He was active in the Akron Rubber Group, holding several offices that culminated in being Chairman in 1981-82. He also served as Exhibits Chairman for the 1985 ACS Rubber Division fall meeting and Expo.
A lifelong love affair with the game of baseball led to John's involvement in the West Akron Baseball League as coach, Vice President of Personnel, league President, and umpire. He devoted himself to the league, the game, and the kids who played it. He could often be found playing catch in the yard with his children, who have fond memories of sitting in the backyard with him on summer nights looking at the stars and listening to baseball games on the radio.
After his retirement from Michelin in 2006, John spent time doing the things he enjoyed most: playing golf, researching his Swedish genealogy, painting, watching baseball, stargazing, seeing his grandkids, and traveling. Having traveled worldwide during his working years, he bought a National Parks lifetime pass and set out to complete his goal of visiting all 50 states. Alaska is the only one he missed. He will be fondly remembered for his deep love of all things Swedish, fascination with the weather, his '65 Mustang, seemingly endless supply of chocolate, his corny jokes, and inventive, affectionate nicknames.
Preceded in death by his parents and sister, John is survived and will be deeply missed by his wife of 53 years, Merrily; his children Jennifer (Doug), John (Gina) and Jeffrey; his grandchildren Madeline, Lauren, Hazel, and Wilson; his sister, brother, sisters- and brothers-in-law, and many nieces and nephews.
There will be no services.
For those who wish to honor him, memorial contributions can be made to the West Akron Baseball League, PO Box 5751, Akron OH 44372 or www.wabl.org (via PayPal.)
Online condolences can be left for the family at www.MackeyCenturyDrive.com.