 | | | June 15, 1945 - April 23, 2021 | | | | | | Friends and family remember John Carey as larger than life. He was hard to miss in a room-thanks to both his towering stature and his reverberating presence. True to his Irish heritage, John possessed the "gift of gab," known for his wild stories, incisive wit, and passionate debates. He loved to hold court at the family dinner table and engage strangers in conversation at Moraga Safeway.
Born in Newport, Rhode Island to Dr. and Mrs. John E. Carey, John cultivated a love of the ocean from an early age. Throughout his life, he was most at peace navigating a sailboat. He left Rhode Island to attend Georgetown University in 1964, but remained a proud Newporter until his final days.
After serving as an intelligence officer in the Army, John moved to San Francisco in 1972 and attended UC Hastings College of the Law, where he played on the school's rugby team and built friendships that would last a lifetime. He went on to practice as a civil litigator for over 45 years, fueled by a gift for oration and a belief that everyone deserves an advocate. Outside of his legal practice, he was known for his generosity-regularly providing legal guidance to friends and family.
John was fiercely loyal to his large family, and will be greatly missed by them, including his wife of 36 years, Sherri (née Gasparini); children Morgan (Derek Schauffler), Shauna, and Brendan; two young grandsons, Grady and Tate; his five siblings; and more than 20 nieces and nephews.
John was guided by a belief that all people deserve equal justice under law. In this spirit, his family asks that those who wish to honor his legacy donate to the ACLU in his name. |
Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA