John B. Hallam

John Bainbridge Hallam of Vero Beach, Florida died on February 20, 2023, at age 94.  He leaves his wife of 34 years, Barbara Perez Hallam, son, John Gregory Hallam (Tammy), and daughters, Travis Hallam Blanton (Robin), Stacey Stewart, and Stephanie Reeder.  He is also survived by his grandsons Charles Lambert, John Lambert, Jordan Hallam, Chase Hallam, Tony Reeder, Austin Reeder, Gabriel Stewart, and Jacob Stewart, and granddaughters Amanda Lambert, Carly HallamTosh, Taylor Hallam, and Brooke Reeder.  In addition, he is survived by six great-grandchildren and by niece, Carol Furst Matulonis and nephew, William Furst, Jr.

John was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on December 19, 1928, to John Cecil Hallam and Alice Bainbridge Hallam.  He grew up in Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania where he graduated from Mt. Lebanon High School.  He earned a B.S. in business from Washington & Jefferson in 1950.  He married Peggy Jean Justice and together they had two children.

They moved to Columbus, Ohio where he worked for Kresges.  Subsequently, they moved to Memphis, Tennessee, and then to Birmingham, Alabama where he pursued a career with Proctor & Gamble.  In 1956, he moved to Ft. Pierce, Florida to work with his father at East Coast Tire, and began his automotive career.  For the next 25 years, he served as Vice President and General Manager of Al Johnson Motors and then Sunrise Ford.

John was very active in his community and a member of St. Andrews Episcopal Church.  He served as first President of the Committee of 100 to help bring companies to Ft. Pierce.  He also served as first President of the Ft. Pierce Exchange Club.  He was a member of the St. Lucie Planning and Zoning Board and the First Regional Planning Board.

He was on the Board of Directors of the Pelican Yacht Club and the Ft. Pierce Kiwanis Club.  In addition, John was Vice President of the Young Republicans Club and an active member of the Jaycees.  He also enjoyed singing barbershop quartet in his early years.

As an accomplished athlete, John wrestled in college, played league softball, and was a ranking racquetball player for over 50 years, retiring at age 87.  He was an avid reader, swimmer, body surfer, Miami Dolphins fan, and loved working in his yard.  John also enjoyed creating stained glass windows and was a talented and prolific oil painter.

John married the love of his life, Barbara Weiss Perez, in 1989 at St. Andrews Episcopal Church where they were active members.  They moved to the Florida Keys where they owned and operated The Car Place and attended St. Colombo Episcopal Church.  In the Keys, John learned to snorkel with a hookah rig and fell in love with it.  They retired to Vero Beach in 1998 and became active members of Trinity Episcopal Church where John was an usher and sang in the choir.  With his deep love of animals, he enjoyed volunteering at the Indian River County Humane Society and at the St. Lucie County Aquarium in Ft. Pierce for over ten years.  He also volunteered at The Source in Vero Beach and served as a Salvation Army Bell ringer.

John was predeceased by his parents, his sister Joan Hallam Furst, her husband William Furst, Sr., and his first wife Peggy Justice Hallam.

A memorial service is planned for April 15 at 10:00 a.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church in Vero Beach, with reception to follow.

in lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the St. Lucie County Aquarium, Smithsonian Marine Ecosystems Exhibit.

Arrangements are by Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home & Crematory, Vero Beach.