John E. McNinney, Jr.

Myrtle Beach, SC 

John Elwood McNinney, Jr., age 77, passed away Tuesday, February 23, 2021.  A celebration of John’s life will take place in Wheaton, IL at a later date.  Inurnment will be in Wheaton Cemetery.  Memorials may be made in his honor to the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) at   https://www.aspca.org/ways-to-give.

John was born November 15, 1943, in Trenton, New Jersey, the son of John and Mildred (Allen) McNinney.  John was a talented musician, specializing in keyboard/organ.  He was trained by the famous organist, Larry Ferrari.  Larry hosted The Larry Ferrari Show on WPVI-TV in Philadelphia, a weekly Sunday morning half-hour program of organ music.  Larry was so impressed by John’s musical talent, he invited John to accompany him on live TV and radio appearances.  John began his professional music career at the young age of 17.  He performed weekend gigs at various venues along the Jersey shore.   John played keyboard both in a group as well as performing solo, as John Elwood.  He was booked to perform regularly on a local radio show. His love of music led him to pursue a degree in Music Education from Trent State College.  Following graduation, John became a music (marching band, orchestra, choir) teacher at his alma mater, Trenton High School.  John led the choral group from Trenton High School to perform at the Vatican.  John was such an impactful teacher that many of his Trenton High School students kept in touch with him throughout the years.

Following his father’s serious accident, John, a devoted son, put his music career on hold in order to drive his mother daily to visit John’s father during his hospitalization and rehabilitation in Philadelphia.  John married Elnora (Nora) Piscopo.  They were married for nine years before their divorce.

John caught the wanderlust bug and switched careers from music to travel.  John relocated from Trenton to Raleigh, NC & worked in the travel industry while enjoying extensive world travel.  John’s favorite travel destination was the Seychelles. John loved sharing his travel stories and pictures.  While in Raleigh, John earned another bachelor’s degree in psychology from his beloved North Carolina State University (Go Wolfpack!).  John met and married Eileen Smith.  John’s travel career led them to California, where their son, Sean, was born in Walnut Creek, CA.  John and his family relocated to Chicago, IL where sadly, Eileen passed away.  John then began a career in the HVAC industry as a salesman.  He was a natural and eventually started his own HVAC company.

John was an avid animal lover, he frequently said if music had not been his passion, he would have pursued a career as a veterinarian. He never met an animal he didn’t love, including the alligator who came to visit in our backyard one day.

John met Colleen Tracey when introduced by his former sister-in-law LeeAnn Smith in Crown Point, Indiana.  They had their first date in July 1989.  John and Colleen’s whirlwind romance led to a January 1990 wedding.  John and Colleen were married for 31 years.  Colleen believes with all her heart that even though John was a Jr., there could only ever be one John McNinney.

John was preceded in death by his sister, Delores and his parents John and Mildred.  He is survived by his wife Colleen, son Sean, daughter-in-law Shelly (Weber) and two grandchildren, Eila and Cade.

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