John Joseph Tomlinson
John Joseph Tomlinson, 74, died on January 22, 2023 at Hillcrest Hospital. He was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on March 2, 1948. He became a naturalized citizen when his parents, William George and Anna Mary Ocenas Tomlinson became US citizens. John graduated from Holy Family High School in Massena, NY, from Canton ATC with an Associate degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management and from SUNY at Plattsburgh, NY with a BS in Nutrition in 1976. In 1974, he married Karon Ann Ashley and together they had three sons: Jared, (Westport, CT), Joel, (Charlotte, NC) and John (JJ), (Penn Valley, CA). John is survived by his wife and his three sons and their wives: Jared and Dr. Heather Waters, Joel and Amrit Bhogal and JJ and his soon to be wife, Camila Rojas-Ponce of Chili, South America. He is also survived by four special grandchildren: Gunnar (10yrs), August (8 yrs) and Elin (5 yrs) of Westport, CT and Rai (3 yrs) of Charlotte, NC. He is also survived by three sisters: Beverly Adams of Hiltonhead SC, Louise Burgess of Mentor, OH, and Anne Kilcoyne of Massena, NY. John’s foodservice career began South Nassau Hospital in Oceanside, NY and then at Jamaica Hospital in Queens, NY. In 1980, he then moved to Ohio as the foodservice director of Mt. Sinai Hospital. After serving there, he went to Lakewood Hospital and finally served as the General Manager of Foodservice at the Cleveland Clinic for 21 years. John was a kind, caring person who demonstrated enthusiasm in all he did. Whether you were a coworker, a wife, a friend or one of his children, you knew you were important to him. He accepted and loved everyone right where they were at, never passing judgement. He had a great sense of humor, and his world was filled with smiles, laughter, joy and an unwavering love because of this. His backyard was his canvas for creating, with plants and flowers, a peaceful haven for all who entered it. When he was fishing, hiking, canoeing, or cooking he did it with a twinkle in his eyes and a smile on his face. Whether you were 3 years old or 93 years old, he could make you feel welcomed and loved in his company. We will all miss that special atmosphere of love that he radiated with his presence.
There will be a “Celebration of Life” for him at Headlands Beach Pavilion in the spring or early summer. This pavilion overlooks the Lighthouse and wall where he loved to go fishing.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to the Lake Metroparks “A Gift that Grows” program; 11211 Spear Rd. Concord Twp., Ohio 44077 in John’s name.