John William Rideout passed away on November 18, 2022, at Hospice of Northwest Ohio. He was 60 years old and had fiercely battled cancer for six years prior to his death. Friends and family surrounded him in his final days, as they had in life.
John was born in Toledo on February 26, 1962, and graduated from Bowsher High School. He was a man of many and varied interests and an independent thinker who lived a very full and active life.
John was an accomplished musician and singer who performed in many Toledo bands over the years. As a teenager, his great aunt Dollie (who happened to be deaf) welcomed John and his bandmates to practice in her basement. Eventually John created his own basement music and recording studio, where he and his friends frequently gathered. Largely self-taught, John wrote music and played guitar and several other instruments, while becoming adept at recording and production technology. While John’s passion was rock and roll, he had fun with other musical endeavors like an all-ukelele group (known as “Tuesday Night Ukeleme.”)
John loved the outdoors and enjoyed taking his boat on the Maumee River or to the Erie Islands. He was a talented water skier (barefoot even!) and spent many summer days at his family’s place on Lake Somerset in the Irish Hills. John also loved to fish and hunt ducks on the Lake Erie marshes. In the winter he often traveled out west to ski or visited friends in Florida. He was a licensed pilot and loved to fly small planes. He kept a vegetable garden and was an excellent cook. He was predeceased by much-loved dogs Moose, Jack and Wyatt.
John had a long career as a building construction manager, most recently with Ridgestone Builders/Developers. He was a talented carpenter whose own home, which he bought at foreclosure and rehabbed extensively, reflected these skills.
Though he was single, John had a very big ‘family,’ which included both biological relatives and many devoted friends. After the death of his friend Mike Phillips in 2004, John’s life was enriched by his close relationship with Mike’s children Brooklyn and Lucas Phillips. He was especially close and a father figure to Lucas, who cared lovingly for John throughout his illness.
John’s father Les died in 1997, but he is survived by his mother, Fran Rideout. John was the ‘baby of the family’ to brothers, Joe Rideout (Bev) and Mark Rideout; and sisters, Leslie Wood (Jim) and Patty Rideout (Mark Newton.) To his many nieces and nephews and their children, John was the Fun Uncle. He also leaves a host of extended family members and loyal, loving friends.
Family and friends are invited to gather at a celebration of John’s life on Thursday, December 8, 2022, from 4:00 to 8:00 pm at Maumee River Yacht Club, 2735 Broadway Street, Toledo Ohio 43609. Donations may be made in John’s memory to Black Swamp Conservancy, 4825 Sugar Ridge Road, Pemberville, Ohio 43450.
Published by The Blade from Nov. 27 to Dec. 1, 2022.
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