John D. Pope

Born in Cambridge, John attended Swampscott Public Schools until enrolling at Kimball Union Academy in Meriden, NH for his high school years. It was at KUA, where he learned the impact that a small private school can have on a student, and where he famously locked a young F. Lee Bailey in the janitor's closet. KUA was one of the four main pillars of John's interest and focus of philanthropy during his entire life. John ultimately served as the Head of the KUA Board of Trustees, proudly raising tens of millions of dollars. He was gratified to see the campus transformed under his leadership and enjoyed the ways his efforts added to the Hilltop community.

As a student at KUA, John was involved in many activities, including lacrosse, which he continued to play while enrolled at the second of the four main pillars of his life, Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH. John graduated from Dartmouth as a member of the Great Class of '54 with a degree in History, and it was also during this time when he became a Naval Officer through the ROTC program. John loved his years at Dartmouth having followed his father there, and subsequently enjoyed the experience of being a Dartmouth parent when three of his four children also attended his alma mater. A dedicated alumnus, John raised countless dollars, donated facilities, volunteered on a myriad of committees and recruited many students and athletes to attend. John most definitely bled Green.

Upon graduation, John headed south to Naval Station Norfolk, VA where he was based when not roaming the Mediterranean seas. He was proud to be a Tin Can Sailor and Lieutenant aboard the USS Charles S. Sperry, DD697, overseeing a crew of 90 sailors. He greatly enjoyed his time in the service and learned that he was good at leading, inspiring and motivating, skills that would prove essential later in his business life.

In 1955, John married his summer sweetheart and the love of his life, Virginia Starr (Jinny), whom he met earlier at the Twin Lake Villa Resort in New London, NH where she was a chambermaid and he proudly worked as the assistant salad boy. They dated during those working summers and all through John's years at Dartmouth and Jinny's at Mount Holyoke College. After Jinny's graduation, they married and she joined John in Norfolk, where they lived until 1956, when they returned to New England so John could work in his family's company, the third pillar of his life, the F.W. Webb Company.

At age 29, John's father suddenly passed away leaving him the head and owner of F.W. Webb. It was a steep learning curve for John beginning with only seven stores and sales of $5M, to ultimately at his passing, a company containing 90 locations with an additional 40 Frank Webb Home retail locations, and sales over $1B. John was the proud owner of the company for 57 years, and in all his dealings, was inspired by the legacy and leadership of his father, Roger Pope, and Frank. W. Webb. John strongly believed that his role as leader was simply the caretaker of "Frank's Company." A humble man who preferred simple statements like "Sell More Stuff" and the business lessons of Obvious Adam, John had a lot of fun with Webb's partnership with the Boston Red Sox, cheering when the ball would sail to the outfield and hit the F.W. Webb sign on the Green Monster.

John traveled extensively and eagerly with his wife Jinny, their children and so many friends, visiting far off places including South Africa, USSR, Alaska, Scotland and Ireland, always with golf clubs in tow. John loved sharing golf with his wife and together they were members of the Tedesco Country Club, the Sleepy Hollow Club in Tarrytown, NY, and a founder of the Baker Hill Golf Club in Newbury, NH.

Aside from his love of travel, history, education, sports, and F.W. Webb, it was his family that occupied the final and fourth pillar of his life. Together, in a house filled with Frank Sinatra music and loads of laughter, John and Jinny raised a family of four in Marblehead, MA. John was also the proud "Grumpa" to sixteen grandchildren enjoying his position as the biggest teacher of them all, full of lessons and mandates such as "Go, See, Do." Grumpa had a nickname for each of his children and grandchildren, a true sign of affection, and he loved sharing his adventures with them all. Predeceased by his beautiful wife, Jinny, who passed away in 2016 after 61 years of marriage, and his grandsons, Christopher Pope and Tom Pope, John leaves a sister, Eleanor Pope Ammen and her husband David Ammen of Marblehead and Key Largo, FL. He also leaves four children, son, Jeff Pope and his wife Carmen of Beverly, son, Steve Pope and his wife Allison Kerwin of Hancock, NH, daughter, Tracey Pfister and her husband John of Marblehead, and daughter Nanny Noyes and her husband Peter of Marblehead. Additionally, Grumpa leaves fourteen grandchildren, Kelly Pope, Dave Pope, Beckett Noyes, Holly Noyes, Charlotte Noyes, Kimberly Pfister, Julia Pfister, Nathan Pope, Joanna Wallace, Jared Pope, Rachael Porelle, Andrew Pope, Christina Pope, Rebecca Pope and many cherished nieces and nephews.

John is greatly loved and will be sorely missed by his family and friends, but knowing that both John and Jinny are reunited along with Christopher and Tom brings the family comfort and peace. A memorial service will be held on January 27th at the new F.W. Webb Central Distribution Center, 10 Webb Drive in Londonderry, NH at 10:30am. A separate celebration of his life for family and friends will be held on May 12th at Tedesco Country Club, Marblehead. In lieu of flowers, please consider making contributions to Kimball Union Academy, 64 Main Street, Meriden, NH 03770, Dartmouth College c/o the Alumni Association, 6068 Blunt Alumni Center, Hanover, NH 037555, or to the Parkinson's Foundation, 200 SE 1st Street, Suite 800, Miami, FL 33131. Arrangements by Eustis and Cornell of Marblehead.