John R. Redgrave

John R Redgrave, 90, Sarasota, passed away on September 17, 2016 There will be a memorial service for family and friends to celebrate John's life at 11:00 AM on Saturday, September 24 at All Angels by the Sea Episcopal Church, 563 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key, FL , followed by a reception and a light lunch. John is preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Nancy. Survivors include sons Martyn of Columbus, Ohio; Timothy of Houston, Texas; John Jr. of Diamond Bar, California; a daughter Barbara Jean Holloway of Downers Grove, Illinois; their spouses, 9 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren, as well as a sister, Catherine Hohlstein of Atlanta, Georgia. John was born in Philadelphia, grew up in a Navy family that lived all over the world, graduated from Rittenhouse College, served in the Navy in the Pacific Theater of World War II, and began his career in technical sales in Appleton, Wisconsin. He eventually rose up to serve in sales leadership roles for Beloit Corporation, the largest pulp and paper machinery company in the world, finally serving as CEO of their Canadian subsidiary. Before retiring in 1990, he bought and ran a heavy machinery business, Super Steel, in Beloit, Wisconsin. John resided in Longboat Key for 16 years, before moving to The Glenridge at Palmer Ranch in 2005. He served as a Commissioner on the Longboat Key Town Commission from 1997 to 2004 and as Mayor from 2002 to 2004. He also served as Commissioner for the Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority for 4 years. Above all else, he was dedicated to his life-long pursuit of perfection in the game of tennis, and finished his career at age 86 with a USTA ranking of #1 in Florida and #8 in the nation. Throughout his life, he was a wonderful, supportive, warm and caring partner to his wife, as they lived in Appleton, WI; Beloit, WI; Portland, OR; Montreal, Canada; Milwaukee, WI, and finally, Longboat Key and Sarasota, FL. He was a voracious and dedicated volunteer for all kinds of causes and devoted significant time to his beloved All Angels by the Sea Church and the development of public tennis on Longboat Key. He was loved by many everywhere he lived and traveled in his life. He was an inspiration and great cheerleader to his children, grandchildren, and to all he met, and he will be greatly missed. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the Legacy Fund of All Angels by the Sea Episcopal Church, 563 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key, FL 34228 or The Friends of Tennis, Inc., a non-profit organization in support of the Longboat Key Public Tennis Center, P.O. Box 8164, Longboat Key, Fl 34228.

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John R. Redgrave

September 17, 2016