1939 - 2009
John Joseph Ahearn Jr., of San Marcos, Calif., passed away in the early morning hours of May 7, 2009, at Palomar Medical Center, with his family at his side.
Born on May 11, 1939, in Schenectady, N.Y., John grew up in Johnstown, N.Y. He attended St. Patrick's School and Johnstown High School. John was an Eagle Scout and a member of the Royal Mountain Ski Club, and he participated in the Water Ski National Championships.
John attended college at Cornell University where he was initiated into the Sigma Chi Fraternity and then Union University College of Pharmacy where he received his RPh in 1962.
After his graduation, John became interim superintendent of St. Patrick's School and began his pharmacy career at the family business, Ahearn's Pharmacy; and in 1971, the Pharmacy Retail Association named John the Pharmacy Retailer of the Year.
While in Johnstown, he served as president of the Johnstown Chamber of Commerce, and was charter president of the Johnstown Jaycees.
In 1973, John was hired as vice president of marketing for Steamboat ski resort. John oversaw one the largest expansions in the history of the resort. John played a key role in the branding of Steamboat as "Ski Town USA." In February of 1977, John led an effort to host the inaugural Special Winter Olympics, which drew more than 500 athletes from around the world.
He also worked with Billy Kidd and Larry Mahan to host the Pro Rodeo Association's first Cowboy Downhill, an annual event that continues to this day. John also won several marketing awards, including recognition twice for the best promotional film. He served as chairman of the marketing committee for the National Ski Association, president of the Steamboat Springs Chamber and the Colorado Ski Country Board of Directors, where he chaired the marketing, government affairs and research committees. He also served on the Colorado Governors Advisory Committee on Transportation and was president of the Steamboat Springs Transit Advisory Council.
John was president of the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club and while under his leadership, the club was restored to profitability.
In 1983, John became president of Transpacific Industries in Lake Arrowhead, Calif. He served on the board of directors of the Lake Arrowhead Chamber of Commerce, Southern California Marine Association Boat Show Committee and Cobalt Boats Dealer Advisory Committee.
He was the head coach of the Rim of the World High School soccer team, leading the team to the CIF quarterfinals.
John also served as president of the San Diego chapter of the California Pharmacists Association, was a guest lecturer at Cornell University's School of Hotel Management and California State University San Bernardino where he served on the Business School Advisory Board and as a guest marketing faculty member. John also chaired the Small Business Committee for the city of Carlsbad, Calif.
John is survived by his wife of 45 years, Dorothea Bannigan Ahearn; their four children, John J. Ahearn, III, Christopher B. Ahearn, Michael P. Ahearn and Katherine Ahearn Edwards; and his sister, Elizabeth Ahearn Fry.
