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John Thomas Humphrey, R.I.P.
Posted on 17 Aug 2012
To All Fairfax Genealogical Society Members,
I am very sorry to have to inform you that John Humphrey passed away on Sunday, August 12th in Washington, D.C.
John was a great genealogist, and FxGS was very lucky to have him speak at our meetings, our classes, and our conferences. His knowledge of things German and Pennsylvanian was especially extensive and helpful to those of us with ancestors from those areas. He will be sorely missed.
John was scheduled to be the speaker at our meeting on September 27th. His bio may be found at http://www4.samford.edu/schools/ighr/IGHR_fac_humphrey_j.html. The following obituary is going to be published today in the The Express-Times (the Lehigh Valley, PA newspaper):
OBITUARY: John Thomas Humphrey
John Thomas Humphrey, age 64, passed away suddenly of a stroke on August 12, 2012 in Washington, D.C. He was the son of the late David and Edythe Humphrey of Pen Argyl, PA. John was graduated from Pen Argyl High School in 1966, and was graduated from American University with a BA in government and public administration in 1970. He is survived by his sister, Joan E. Mack (nee Humphrey), nephew Jonathan Mack, niece Jennifer Mack, and John Doney, his partner of twelve years.
Soon after college John began renovating townhouses on historic Capitol Hill, eventually completing more than twenty properties. John transitioned to professional genealogy, and compiled the fifteen volume Pennsylvania Birth Series [JAD: title in Italics], authored four books, and innumerable articles. As a certified genealogist, John lectured and taught nationally and internationally on Pennsylvanian, German, Welsh and Moravian ancestry, and could read and write old German typeface. In addition to his love of genealogy, John ran more than twenty marathons, enjoyed worldwide travel, and the endless devotion of his Polish Lowland Sheepdogs and Labrador Retrievers.
A public viewing will be held on Thursday, August 16, 2012 at 9:00 A.M. at the Guerro & Ruggiero Funeral Home in Pen Argyl, followed by interment at Plainfield Township Cemetery.
As expressions of sympathy, memorial contributions may be sent in John's name to the Northampton County SPCA, the Maryland SPCA, and/or the annual fund of Moravian College.
Jan Fox
President, Fairfax Genealogical Society
