John J. Gannon

John J. Gannon, 84, passed away on Friday, August 21, 2026 at his home in Menlo Park, California, following a long illness with COPD. He faced the challenges of declining health with the quiet strength, grace, and stoicism that marked his life. 

Born on May 31,1942, in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, John was the son of Jack and Antoinette (Nugent) Gannon. He attended grade school at St. Bernard School and then went to South Hills Catholic High School where he was in the first graduating class in 1960. He then went on to Duquesne University where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry in 1964.

John continued his education at the University of Notre Dame, conducting research on organic nitrogen complexes and earning his PhD in 1968. During his years at Notre Dame, he developed a lifelong love for Fighting Irish football - a passion that he shared with many of his Notre Dame friends.

After receiving his doctorate, John moved to the San Francisco Bay Area and began a distinguished career with Chevron. At Chevron Research, he made important contributions to the development of gasoline additives that came into widespread use. He was also a generous mentor, interviewing and encouraging university students and helping colleagues navigate their professional paths. His lasting influence on those he guided was affectionately known as “Gannon University”.

John later worked with Chevron Chemical Company, a role that took him throughout the Asia-Pacific region. He embraced travel with intellectual curiosity and made many friends throughout many parts of the world. He participated in many travel-study programs led by faculty from Notre Dame and Stanford University. Among the most memorable was a journey through Egypt and along the Nile with Notre Dame President Reverend Theodore Hessburg, who celebrated Mass daily with the travelers.

In retirement, John found great pleasure in his nearly daily swimming routine, which he maintained for many years. While swimming a lung collapse occurred that required an extended hospitalization at Stanford University.  He was diagnosed with bullous emphysema despite having never smoked. Throughout the final years of his life, John met this hardship with courage and was helped by many Stanford physicians, nurses, and physical therapists. Ryan Rajkumar, one of his nurses, became an important source of care, companionship, and encouragement in the last years of his life. With the support of Ryan, John’s devoted partner, Jim, and local friends and family, John was able to spend his final years in his home, surrounded by love.

John is survived by his lifelong partner of 57 years, James Rytuba, whom he met shortly after arriving in the Bay Area in 1968. He is also survived by his sisters, Maureen Cusick and Kathy Gannon (Gene Vactor); his brothers, Tom Gannon and his wife, Joanne, Mike Gannon and his wife, Holly, and David Gannon, all of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; many nieces and nephews, including Kelly Caputo, Jamie Fenwick and Caitlan Paschalides, Brian Gannon, and Matt and Steve Cusick; and his great nieces and nephews Louie, Ava, Finn, Addy, Joey, Livi, Michael, Shane, Griffin, and Jack.

John will be remembered for his intellect, integrity, generosity, resilience, and enduring devotion to the people and pursuits he loved. His life was enriched by science, learning, travel, friendship, family, and love—and his memory will remain a blessing to all who knew him.

Friends will be welcomed at Laughlin Cremation & Funeral Tributes, 222 Washington Road, Mt. Lebanon on Friday August 28th from 4:00 until 7:00pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be Celebrated in Saint Bernard Church (St. Michael the Archangel Parish) on Saturday morning at 10 o'clock. Interment at Queen of Heaven Cemetery.

www.laughlinfuneralhome.com

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