John Cleary, a 30-year volunteer patroller at Hidden Valley Ski Patrol, Western Appalachian Region, passed away on October 25, 2025 at the age of 74.
“John was kind, soft-spoken, funny, genuine, warm, and so much more,” said Hidden Valley Ski Patrol Director, Lisa Buss. “John was one of the kindest people I have ever known. Not only was he an excellent ski patroller, but he also went out of his way to have a chat and ask fellow patrollers about their life outside of patrolling…how is the family, how is work, any trips coming up?
Following his retirement from Hidden Valley Ski Patrol, John and his wife, Kathy, continued to be homeowners at Hidden Valley, and were often seen in the chairlift lines or on the slopes, and made frequent visits to the patrol room to say hello.
John was a graduate of Kent State University in the field of architecture. He was a survivor of the Kent State Shootings on May 4, 1970, when National Guard troops suddenly opened fire on anti-Vietnam War protesters. Four students were killed and nine, including John, were wounded.
He was the injured student shown in the iconic Life Magazine cover photo about the Kent State University shootings.
In 2010, John told an interviewer for the oral history project for the Kent State University Libraries that he did not join the demonstrators but rather came to take pictures with a borrowed camera.
“Everyone was talking about how there was going to be a noon rally and that sort of thing,” he said. “And so, I went over to just see what was going on and observe the protesters.”
“As the National Guard got near the top of the hill, I wanted to get one last picture of them before they went over the crest of the hill, so I was getting ready to take another shot and suddenly, they just turned and fired. It was like this volley of gunshots. And then I got hit in the chest.”
John went home after his hospital stay but returned to Kent State to continue his studies the following year. At the one-year commemoration of the shooting, a mutual friend introduced him to Kathy Bashaw, who would become his wife. Ten years later, on May 4, 1981 their first child, Andrew, was born.
“He and my mother had one of the greatest love stories,” his daughter Elizabeth Dove said. “They were married for 51 years. They were crazy about each other.”
John initially shunned the attention that would follow him. Many of us who patrolled with him never knew of his connection to the Kent State shootings until his picture on the cover of Life Magazine appeared in local papers on the 50th anniversary of the shootings. But John eventually returned to campus to join the annual commemorations of May 4.
In 2025, during the 55th annual May 4 Commemoration, he was honored with the privilege of ringing the university’s Victory Bell, a moment he described as deeply meaningful.
“John was a testament to the power of reconciliation” said Kent State President Todd Diacon. He had every reason and right to lead with anger and bitterness for the rest of his life, yet the John we came to know was kind, sensitive and an inspiration. We are all better for knowing him and will be guided by his strength within the legacy of May 4, 1970.”
This experience shaped his lifelong commitment to perseverance, family, reflection, and peace. He lived a life filled with creativity, kindness, and devotion to those he loved. A talented architect, he spent his career helping to design spaces that blended beauty and purpose, leaving a lasting mark on his community through his work and generosity of spirit.
“He was just the most resilient man that I know,” said his daughter, Elizabeth. “He just kept moving forward, no matter what life threw at him. That’s what I remember most about him, his ability to persevere throughout hardship.”
