John Richard Horan

February 8, 1934 - December 11, 2023

It’s with great sadness that we announce the death of our beloved father, John Richard Horan. He passed away on December 11, 2023.

John was born in Scranton, Penn., on February 8, 1934. John’s intellect and ambition facilitated his early business success. His sales teams in the US and Europe achieved financial goals that made it possible for him to save money and start a family while completing his undergraduate history degree at UC Berkeley, a masters in city planning at The University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill and later pursue a PhD.

He was a coal miner’s son that took control of his destiny and proudly stood for his family back home. He shares his adventures and learnings in his book Door to Door Salesman: From Coal Mines to UC Berkeley.

After finishing his Master’s degree in the 60s, he moved back to the Bay Area with his wife, Rose, where they raised three children in Palo Alto. Throughout the 70s and 80s he worked in San Francisco for the Federal Government developing poverty programs throughout the western United States. Later he worked as a City Planner and then changed careers to become a self taught software engineer developing security applications for the United States Post Office.

John was always interested in the world around him. His curiosity and love of cultures led him to travel the world throughout his life. He enjoyed playing the accordion, ping pong, chess, tap dancing and ballroom dancing. He never missed a day working out, jogging, swimming or rowing. He loved languages, teaching Chinese in Central Park in San Mateo, studying Spanish and French.

Later in life, John spent most of his time with his longtime friend and dance partner, Eva Barr. They traveled mostly within the continental US to visit his sister, Dianne Duffy, and her children. John had a special reverence for his hometown of Scranton, Penn., and the very large family he still has there.

John was a role model that lived to learn everyday. He was kind and generous, smart and funny with a strong moral compass helping to guide everyone around him.

His civic connection ran deep. He believed in a society with fair and equal access to health, education, a high standard of living and strong quality of life. The 1950s was his favorite decade when he was most optimistic about our country’s future, believing that the world would become a better place to live.

John was a survivor who lived a full life of 90 years and showed us how to enjoy each day no matter what. The world has lost a great man too soon and we will never, ever forget the difference he made in the lives of his family and friends.

John is survived by his sister, Dianne Duffy, and his children, John Casey Horan and Kelly Bossut, and his grandchildren, Amanda Horan and Camille Bossut. John’s first born son, Mark Horan, died in 2003.

There will be two memorial services for John Richard Horan:

California: January 13, 2024 at 2 p.m. in San Mateo at Sneider & Sullivan & O’Connell’s, 977 El Camino Real. A reception immediately follows at the same location.

Pennsylvania: March 2024, location and date upon request.