John T. Follett passed away on November 7, 2004.
John T. Follett passed away on November 7, 2004.
A Hollister resident, John was born in Minneapolis, Minn. on March 28, 1915 and grew up in Chicago, Ill. before attending Dartmouth College. He joined the Navy during WWII and served as Lieutenant Commander on the USS Lindsey. On April 12, 1945, during the Okinawa campaign, the Lindsey was hit by two Kamikaze planes, suffering damage that killed nearly sixty crewmembers and destroyed her bow. The ship was able to reach Guam, where temporary repairs in May-July 1945 made her seaworthy enough to return to the United States for permanent restoration.
After the war, John attended UC Berkeley earning his Bachelor’s degree in history. He caught the retail bug from his father, Herbert, and became a clothing merchant with him in several northern California communities. He co-owned and managed Baron’s Department Store on 27th and J in Sacramento. There he met his future wife, Eleanor who operated a watchmaker’s shop on 29th and J. The couple married in 1959 and wanting to raise their family in a smaller community, moved to Hollister California, where they purchased Schulze’s Department Store and later opened a children’ s clothing store, The Peppermint Pony. At one time John served as President of the Chamber of Commerce. In 1975 both businesses were sold to Ford’s Department Store and he and Eleanor retired.
John had an incredibly dry wit, was soft-spoken and reserved. He had a passion for politics, sports, convertible cars and horseracing.
Always an intellectual, a life-long learner, and with the goal of becoming a community college instructor, John completed his Master’s Degree at San Jose State University in Political Science. In doing his research for his Master’s Thesis on the Vietnam War, he became interested in Asia and began teaching himself the Chinese language.
He was a devoted husband, father, uncle, and grandfather. When Eleanor suffered a stroke in January of 1997, he lovingly dedicated himself to her therapy and recovery for all of his remaining years.
John preceded in death by his sister, Pat Wilken and is survived by his wife, Eleanor; daughter Susie; step-son Doug Wright; son-in-law Mario; daughter-in-law Glenda; nieces Suzanne Benton and Roxanne Canfield and their husbands Jack and Jim; grandchildren Calvin Ruiz, Kelly Zuccoloto, Lissa Christie, Mitch Wright, Scott Christie, Bonnie Wright; great nieces and nephews Sara Anderson and husband Darius, Chris Canfield, Allison Ward and husband Tom, Jennifer Reny and husband Scott, Mark Canfield and wife Olivia, Michael Canfield, Katie Canfield, Andrew Canfield and wife Christa, Mitchell Benton, and Andrea MacMillan and husband Keith; great-grandchildren Daniella Zuccoloto, Mason Bussell, and Amanda Christie. He is also survived by numerous great grand nieces and nephews.
At his request, there will be no services. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Heart Association, American Diabetes Association, or American Lung Association.
