Flint Township View

Longtime Flint educator dies at age 76


FLINT — Funeral services were to be held today (Jan. 9) for John Clothier, age 76, of Flint. He died Jan. 2, 2020 at Hurley Medical Center.

A memorial service was held today at the Swartz Funeral Home, 1225 West Hill Road, Flint.

Contributions may be made to Flint Classroom Support Fund or Flint Olympian Canusa Games.

Cremation has taken place.

John was born in Clifford, Michigan on May 18, 1943, the son of the late Jack and Agnes (Neilson) Clothier.

On June 6, 1964, he married Bernadean Lewiski in North Branch, Michigan.

John graduated from North Branch High School in 1961. He was captain of the Football and Basketball teams. He had ten varsity letters when he graduated and was Athlete of the Year in 1961.

After graduating from Mott College he followed his sister Gaye in the five year Co-Op Program through the University of Michigan, Flint. He began his teaching career in the Fall of 1964.

John became involved with the community education program and became a Community School Director in 1967.

He spent most of his career as a Community School Director but retired as high school principal after 42 years of service to the Flint Community Schools.

He was a founding member of The Greater Flint Olympian-CANUSA Association. He was active in the University of Michigan Club of Greater Flint. John served as Treasurer of Sovita Credit Union.

He loved sports, his family, and Key West. John felt like he was the luckiest guy in the world. His wife was his best friend and he thought he had the best three kids in the world. He also thought one of the greatest gifts in life is grandchildren.

Surviving are wife, Bernadean; children, Jonnel (Joseph Hewitt) Clothier, Jay (Marci Sargent) Clothier, Jeffrey (Brooke) Clothier and Denise Clothier Dortch (Lou Dortch); grandchildren, Kennedy, Sophia, Abbey, Jackson, Emma, Satchel, and Kristyn; brother, James Clothier; sisters, Gaye Butterfield, Jeanne Jerore and Cheri Lynch.

He was also preceded in death by his brother-in-law, Tom Butterfield.