Obituary of John S. Kirwan
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John Stuart Kirwan, Jr., of Gulf Stream, Florida, and formerly of Louisville, Kentucky died peacefully at home in Linville, North Carolina on July 17, 2017. He was preceded in death by his parents John S. (Jack) and Gloria Hartman Kirwan.
John was born in Louisville in 1946 and reared in Mission Hills, KS. He graduated from Missouri Military Academy, and attended the Universities of Kansas and Louisville. He married the former Phyllis Taylor Mann in Louisville in 1970.
From 1973 to 1987, he and his father owned and operated Schupp & Snyder. After a successful career with Polo Ralph Lauren Corp., John retired as a Senior Vice President. In 2009, John returned to the apparel business as President of Bobby Jones, a division of HMX.
John enjoyed golf, skiing, hunting, fishing and was an accomplished ice skater and expert marksman. Reminiscing about glorious days with friends in the dove fields, time spent with family fishing in Florida, and outings at Churchill Downs gave him much pleasure. John will be remembered for his keen sense of humor, his quick wit and retorts. He delighted in worldwide travel for business and pleasure. New York City became a second home.
He held memberships in Gulf Stream Bath & Tennis, Gulf Stream Golf Club, Linville Golf Club and Louisville Country Club.
The mountains of North Carolina held a special place in his heart and soul. Beginning in 1970, he spent winter vacations skiing in the area and in later years, summers playing golf and hiking in Linville.
An Episcopalian, he was a member at St. Francis in the Fields Episcopal Church (Louisville), All Saints Episcopal Mission (Linville) and St. Pauls Episcopal Church (Delray Beach). 8:00 service found a pew for him wherever he travelled.
In addition to his wife, Phyllis, John is survived by a son J. Stuart Kirwan, III, sisters Ellen Porter (Graham); Juliet (Patty) Kirwan; and Catherine (Kitty) Barton, brother-in-law John L. Mann, Jr (Cheree), and sisters-in-law Barbara Donaldson and Lucy Spickard (John). Known as Gran to his beloved grandchildren, he leaves behind a grandson Griffin Taylor Kirwan and granddaughter Eloise Rawlings Kirwan. Also left behind to mourn his loss are his extended family: his aunt, Love Sooy; nephews; nieces; and much-loved cousins.
John is thankful for his doctors at Memorial Sloan Kettering in NY, but especially for the kindness and care he received from his doctors at Florida Cancer Specialists at Good Samaritan in West Palm Beach, and MediHome Hospice in Linville.
A Celebration of life will be held at 2:00 PM on Sunday, July 23rd at All Saints Episcopal Mission in Linville. A date will be determined for a private burial in Louisville, KY. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to St. Francis Episcopal Church, 6710 Wolf Pen Branch Road, Harrods Creek, KY 40027; St. Pauls Episcopal Church, 188 South Swinton Avenue, Delray Beach, FL 33444; All Saints Episcopal Church, c/o Eseeola Lodge, PO Box 99, Linville, NC 28626 or charity of your choice.
Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com.
Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory (Boone, NC) and Pearson Funeral Home (Louisville, KY) are serving the Kirwan family.