John Francis Linehan, 86, long time resident of Strafford, Vermont, died on February 1 in his home, surrounded by family. John was born in Brooklyn, NY and raised in Melrose, Massachusetts.  He attended St. Mary's School and Malden Catholic High School. He continued on to the University of Notre Dame where he joined the Navy ROTC, ran track and graduated Magna Cum Laude. He was an accomplished enough runner to have the opportunity to enter the Olympic tryouts during his senior year.  His love of running continued his whole life and included his children, grandchildren and many others who he encouraged and cheered on as he ran.  He spent two years in the Navy stationed in the Philippines, and then in Okinawa.  When he returned in 1957 he married Catherine Frost.

John and Kate, as she was and is known, first lived in Whitefield, New Hampshire, where John taught junior high school.  They then moved to New Orleans where he worked for the Army Corp of Engineers and within a few years they transferred to CRREL in Hanover, New Hampshire.  John worked at CRREL for the next thirty years, taking two three year sojourns with his family, first to Bremerhaven, Germany and later to Alaska. They returned each time to Strafford and to CRREL. Later he worked at Dartmouth College for ten years.

John and Kate had twelve children who they raised in the house in Strafford.  John was very active in recreation projects in Strafford and was a charter member of the Strafford Athletic Association.  He was the instigator of the town pond, the town tennis court, and was the first Strafford Town Recreation Director.  He held that post for many years. He created an ice skating rink behind the Strafford Townhouse and later, in his own backyard, open to all Strafford residents. He worked on the ski hill, helping to run the tow and helping very young skiers ride the tow and learn to ski.  He cared for and developed the Old City Recreation Area, creating the trail that replaced old and unsafe ropes and ladders. He recruited help from locals and enlisted students who did major rock step building to make it safe and possible to go down to the foot of the falls.  He mowed and maintained the area for at least 20 years and added other popular facilities to the area. He worked on winter and summer recreation projects and started a road race along with the 4th of July celebration. Feeling that the 4th of July parade needed some music, he created a kazoo band made up of anyone he could persuade to put on a kilt and a paper hat that he made the evening before the fair.  The kazoo tradition has lasted to this day.  In 2019 when John was laid up in bed the band finished the parade by going up to his bedroom window and playing the Notre Dame fight song.

John was also active in other town activities, serving 2 terms on the School Board, the Cemetery Committee and working on the Rosa Tyson gym, a town project that added much to the recreation programs for both town and school.  He loved its town and its people.

John was a dedicated father, amazing role model and an energetic grandfather.  He is survived by his wife Kate, and children Michael (Jean Essex) of Norwich, VT, Gabriel (Tina Olsen) of Carbondale, CO, Mary (Mark Black) of South Strafford, VT, Raphael of Essex Junction, VT, Joseph (Jean Salisbury) of Zeil am Main, Germany, Peter (Louise Barnes) of San Francisco, CA, Therese of Strafford, Kathleen (Christian Hager) of Washington DC, Siobhan (Eric Lopez) of Strafford, Bridget of Norwich, VT, Jeremiah (Hilary) of Strafford, Ben (Anne) of Tunbridge, VT, 31 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren and sister Margaret Brady of Woodstock, VT.

A family Mass will be held in the Chapel of Our Lady of Light in South Strafford on Thursday, February 4.