John Edward Hemington Jr.
John E. Hemington Jr., 76, died Saturday, April 24, 2021, in Canonsburg Hospital, after a sudden heart attack. He was born July 16, 1944, in Uniontown, to John Edward and Mary Lenore Griffith Hemington.
John graduated from McGuffey High School, Class of 1962. He took a break while in college to serve in the U.S. Army as an audio specialist assigned to the 15th Psyop Detachment Strategic Headquarters in Okinawa, Japan. After returning home, his sister introduced him to Carrilee J. Lightholder, whom he married after graduation from West Virginia University with a degree in social work. They would have celebrated their 48th wedding anniversary June 30.
He earned a law degree at Antioch School of Law, which focused on public interest law. He went on to practice law in Uniontown and the South Hills area of Pittsburgh. He left the practice of law to help form several computer software and information technology businesses. Later, he derived much satisfaction from his many years of work managing computer systems for The Watson Institute, which provides education and support for special needs children and their families.
Societal injustice troubled him deeply. His passion was reading to understand life, history, politics, economics and the world. He spent countless hours writing about and sharing what he read with a large group of friends by email. Through his active membership in The Battle of Homestead Foundation and as a founding member of the Izaak Walton League of Allegheny County, he worked to realize a small part of the social, economic and environmental justice that was central to his life.
In addition, he was a longtime member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of the South Hills, where he loved discussing current events. Golfing with friends and watching NASCAR were two of his favorite pastimes.
Surviving, in addition to his wife, Carrilee Lightholder Hemington, are his daughter, Carrie E. Hemington and her husband, Tyrone A. West of Ellicott City, Md.; his son, John Bryce Hemington of Pittsburgh; and three grandchildren, Gregory, Madeleine and Daniel West.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his sister, Susan (John) Tait.
An outdoor celebration of life service will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Church of the South Hills (Sunnyhill), 1240 Washington Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15228, Saturday, May 1, with visitation at 1 p.m. and service following at 2 p.m.
For additional information, visit www.beinhauer.com.