John Gannon

Gannon, John Sexton
John (Jack) Sexton Gannon, 87, died August 9, 2014, after a short illness. John was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Diane Ditchy Gannon, who died in 2013. John was born in East Orange, NJ, and grew up in Royal Oak, MI, where he met Diane. They moved to Nashville in 1966, where they raised their four children: Polly, John, Lanie, and Jamie. He has three grandchildren: Ki and Jack Ogilvie, and Amy Pieterse, and one great-granddaughter, Alexandra Barkhin. John is survived by three brothers and a sister: Peter, Terry, and David Gannon, and Suzanne Pryde. John graduated from the University of Michigan, and later Wayne State University, where he received his JD degree in 1961. In Nashville, John was vice-president of employee relations at Werthan Industries, and was subsequently a partner in the law firm of Dearborn and Ewing. He also taught business and labor law at Vanderbilt's Owen Graduate School of Management, and became an arbitrator/mediator with the American Arbitration Association. John was a member of Hillwood Country Club and Kiwanis. At St. Henry Church John Gannon was a founding member of the Social Action Committee of Christians and Jews, an ecumenical initiative that played a significant role in the life of the Nashville community in the 1960s and 70s. After he established his private practice in law in 1991, he made it a priority to provide legal assistance and representation to individuals and groups who would otherwise have been voiceless and powerless. He used to say: "Even undocumented immigrants have rights." The family will have a funeral mass at St. Henry Church on August 25 at 1pm with reception following. Visitation will begin at 12pm. Memorial donations may be made to: The Lost Boys Foundation of Nashville, P.O. Box 121917, Nashville, TN 37212 or online at thelostboysfoundation.org.