John E. Scott

Sifting through memories to share, of times spent with Dad, I realize that he’s never not been with me, so all memories become memories of times spent with Dad. It’s not just my early memory of riding on his shoulders as we walked around the neighborhood in the evening, or those good times canoeing the rivers of Michigan during our Boy Scout troop’s annual Father-Son canoe trip, or us riding bicycles together through the streets of Chicago (did I really drag Dad on a bicycle ride through the chaotic streets of downtown Chicago?!). But to an extent greater than he probably realized, he was there, too, during those summers I worked as a canoe guide up in Temagami; he was with me when I flew half-way around the globe to teach school in Swaziland; he came along as I boarded a train for my big move from Chicago to San Francisco; and he was right by my side as I bought a piece of land in Truckee for the cabin he so wanted to see finished. He has traveled with me from the southern hemisphere to north of the Arctic Circle, always a constant companion. So, Dad, if you’re reading this, rest assured, we’ve got a lot more traveling to do together!

In thinking about what to say about my father, I don’t wish to provide the predictable platitudes. Instead I will offer the way I choose to remember him. A piece of his story as a fun parent.

When I was about ten years old, Dad took me to work for a day. He was very excited to show me the massive computer room at the Ford headquarters. There were men in white lab coats roaming among computers the size of the cars they made. It was freezing cold, so we didn’t stay long.

Next, he took me to the assembly line and we watched car bodies being run through “pits” of paint. This is where decades later, those layers of paint are being harvested by jewelers and collectors. For Dad’s 80th birthday we gave him a Fordite piece. At that time, he didn’t know it was a “thing”, but he appreciated the gift.

Our next stop was the test track. We got into a souped-up Mustang and went round and round. Dad was having so much fun driving fast and furious. I remember being surprised we were allowed to drive so fast. I asked him if we were going to be in trouble.

A few years later, we went camping in northern Michigan. We were driving a leased full-sized Econoline van – hardly a race car, but that didn’t stop Dad. One day we took a drive and when we hit a straight-away with no other traffic, he decided to see if the van would live up to it’s specs by hitting 90 mph. We did 115.

Stories like these are how I choose to remember my dad.

Throughout my entire life, no matter where I was living or what my interests were, Grandpa always had something interesting to share with me in connection. From National Geographic clippings sent through the mail, to updates in my inbox about a new development being built by Michigan State, he kept up on news from everywhere and always made sure to pass it on. That is something I have always admired about him—his ability to stay close even while separated by great distances. On top of that, every life development of mine inspired a story from him about something he recalled from his youth, or something he’d read about. If he couldn’t remember in the moment I could always expect a follow up with the details he wanted to share. His curiosity was endless, and his exploring spanned the world. His passion for life and enthusiasm to share it with those he loved will always stay with me.

My best memory of Grandpa is a summer evening when I was very young, and we were all sitting out on our front porch. Grandpa was feeding chipmunks and coaxing them up onto the porch while Bonnie and I imitated him and tried to tame the little animals by offering them a seed at a time. He was really good at it, and we weren’t so great, so after a while the chipmunks became too excited and aggressive and one of them attacked me. Mom and Dad said no more feeding chipmunks after that, for fear of some chipmunk-born illness, but years later I saw a decades old photo of Grandpa peacefully feeding another chipmunk out of his hand. People and animals all seem to agree — Grandpa was the easiest person in the world to get along with.

Memories of my best boyhood friend, John Scott.

My parents built our home on South Vernon in about 1939. The first friend I ever had there was Walter and Ella Scott’s son, John. He and I were classmates at the Lindbergh primary school and, for years, we often walked to and from school together. We were all part of an incredibly close group of kids in our immediate neighborhood and we rode our bikes everywhere. I can never remember calling him anything else but “Scotty”. For some unknown reason, all of us boys had strange nicknames. I remember being called “Venner” or “Nhoj”. The McCormick boys, Allan and Douglas, were called “Puss” and “Pants” (we never figured out why, but those were their nicknames). Tom Nulf, (whose mom was later to become our high school nurse), was named “Mot”. John was always called Scotty or just Scott.

At some time in those early years, Walter Scott and my dad got together and bought the vacant fifty foot lot between our homes and landscaped it with what we called a sunken garden. In the summer, there were flowers on the small hillsides and in the cold winter, the whole front part of the lot was filled with water and it became the neighborhood skating rink. In those days during the war, I remember clearly how we boys would play soldier with our plastic helmet liners, our knickers and “high tops” (laced leather boots that came up to the knee), and we all had our homemade wooden rifles and machine guns to protect the whole neighborhood. One special memory of mine is an old photo of all of the neighborhood guys and girls standing on the ice, we boys with our uniforms and weapons and Scotty and his dog “Blackie” with him on a leash. We were awesome!

Later on, my wife Ginny and I were high school classmates with him and Norma, and we remember their marriage. Our paths separated after graduation, but all these years since have not lessened my recollection of Scotty’s gentle and infectious laugh and his unending way of always seeming to be so happy. The photo that you sent to me, Helen, is absolutely the way that I have always remembered him. He was truly a best friend and my life has been better for that.

I will miss him.

Sincerely,
John Vennerholm, 29 October, 2020

As I contemplate the many things I could write, I’m coming to the realization that it’s hard to take decades of wonderful memories about John and put them into only a few paragraphs. So, I decided I would share a couple examples of how he influenced my life and helped shape me into the person I am today. Even though John was not my biological father, he was more of a father to me than anybody could ask. He excepted me with open arms as one of his own children from day one. I’ve been working for the airlines for over 30+ years now. I know my love of traveling and learning the history of the destinations I visit, stems from the many places I got to see with my mom and John. I’m filled with so many wonderful childhood memories of camping trips to our favorite destinations such as Young State Park, Petoskey, Traverse City, Tahquamenon Falls, Copper Harbor and so many others. One of my favorite trips would be taking the ferry to Mackinaw Island and spending the day. I remember John sharing stories of when he worked on the island at the Chippewa Hotel when he was younger. My other favorite adventure would be packing up the car and driving to Florida to see John‘s mother in Boca Raton. Those trips will always have a special place in my heart. Soon after my mom and John got married, I realized one of his passions and true loves was his alma mater, Michigan State University. I quickly jumped on the green and white bandwagon and got hooked on all things Spartans. During holiday get together‘s with my family on my mom side, John and I would get teased a little because most of them were University of Michigan fans. But, it was all in the name fun and sportsmanship. He and I loved to talk about our MSU football and basketball teams over the years. As I’m writing this, this was the weekend when MSU and U of M played their rivalry game. I’m happy to say that MSU won the game. John would have enjoyed seeing that. He was a very special man, father and husband to my mother. I’m glad they met each other when they did. He took good care of his family and for that, I will always be grateful. He will truly be missed, but I will carry with me memories that will last a lifetime.

My grandpa was a very supportive and caring person. Him and grandma would come visit for Christmas and we would open presents and eat Christmas dinner all together. His favorite places to eat when he would visit were David’s Seafood and Macaroni Grill, it was tradition to go there every time he came. Grandma and grandpa would also take my sister and I camping during the summer and we would stay with them for a week. He would always get so excited when he was telling me history about the places we were visiting. He would keep newspaper cut-outs of things he thought I would find interesting and he would give them to me when he had the chance. I still have every single one. When I was in band I would preform little concerts for him in the living room and I probably sounded terrible but he still loved it. I have so many amazing memories with him, I am glad that I got to spend as much time with him as I did.

Hello! I got to know John and Helen when Helen and I were attending law school at the Detroit College of Law, now Michigan State University Law School. Helen managed to keep my spirits up during night law school and working, and I think I did the same for her. You have to be slightly crazy to work and go to night law school. Helen and I were living proof that if you stay sane, you can make it. We would carpool, and share stories of any and everything going on in our lives. You learn a lot about people when you car pool and one thing I can say with great conviction is that Helen married an amazing guy. John stood by Helen through the ups and downs of law school, and was totally behind her. I learned as a young single woman, what it means to marry a good guy, and in fact a guy who is kind, and one who will back you through anything. John was that kind of husband, steady, kind, a good sense of humor….and in fact, I broke it off with a law school boyfriend, because I didn’t think he was the kind of guy that John Scott was. I wanted someone who believed in me, just like John believed in Helen. I found that person in 1984 and married him in 1987. I add that I was also completely fascinated by Helen’s very interesting wedding ring and engagement band. It was unique…very modern with this zig zag type band of diamonds. I always thought John Scott must be something to come up with that very cool ring. I also loved the fact that like me John was a Michigan State Spartan. You could always talk the green and white with him. Alas, John and Helen moved to Florida, and I ended up in Ohio, with my husband Mark who has all of John’s good qualities. I had the opportunity to visit with both John and Helen when I was in Vero Beach with my cousins. Again, I saw the same kindness and attentiveness to Helen just like I always have. I noticed in his obituary that he majored in hospitality at Michigan State. I loved that, because it takes a certain kind of person like John to be hospitable, and he was. I think good people are always attracted to other good people.. And I think that women who become lawyers need exactly the kind of men in their lives who are like John Scott. I’m also proud to say that I owned two Fords in my lifetime, until my brother started working for Chrysler and I switched to Jeep, but I always thought about John when I drove my two Ford Escorts, and felt like I was doing the right thing for another really good person. John Scott = kindness. I am sure he relished the Michigan State victory over Michigan last weekend. When angels get green wings….like John Scott, you know God is good. Love Rosemary Ebner Pomeroy

My grandpa was an amazing person. Some of my favorite memories with him were those where him, grandma, my sister, and I would go on our annual summer camping trip. He always picked the best campsites where there would be fun things for me and my sister to do. At the campsites, my sister and I were free to do as we pleased but he always kept an eye out for us just in case. He had something planned every day, to see things I had never seen before and he always knew so much about them. He inspired me to travel the world to see all it has to offer and I thank him every day for the opportunity to see the beautiful things in the world.

Both Hank and I spent many days remembering John and wondering how to put those precious memories into words. When we close our eyes, we can see John’s warm smile and hear his infectious laughter. Whenever we went to stay with them in Florida, John always made us feel like we had come home. He made sure we knew we were family. John’s intellect and knowledge was amazing. If he didn’t have an answer, he would do always do research with the encyclopedia. While we will miss him, we know that he will always be with us. As our memories continue, they will be daily “Celebrations of John’s Life”. RIP John E. Scott and know that you are deeply loved.