John F. Sexton

Rye - John F. Sexton, 63, of Rye, passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday, August 8, 2015 with his beloved family at his side, after a battle with kidney cancer. He was born in New Brunswick, NJ on April, 8, 1952, a son of the late Maj. John F. Sexton, of Melrose, MA, and Eleanor (Donahue) Sexton, of Pittsburgh, PA. John was raised in Rye and graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas High School in 1970. While at STA, he served as captain for both the football and basketball teams, and was selected to play for the New Hampshire Shrine Team in the annual all-star football game. He attended Bridgton Academy prior to accepting a full football scholarship from the University of New Hampshire. He went on to be the captain the 1974 New Hampshire football team, and was often honored as the MVP. While at UNH, he met and married his wife of 41 years, Jacalyn (Shumway) Sexton, of Amherst, MA. John was both self-employed as a business developer at J.F. Sexton Co., and worked corporately in business development at DeWolfe Co, and later at Russound, headquartered in Newmarket. Always active in his community, John served as the President of Big Brothers Big Sisters and was a lifelong volunteer serving various organizations. He was a member of the Rye Recreation Commission, and was the Chief Umpire of Rye Little League for over 35 years. He took pride in coaching his daughters youth soccer team for over 10 years. He preached and practiced teamwork over winning, and took a group of unpromising but dedicated players from last place to the New Hampshire State Finals. Even more than his professional achievements, sports, parenting and mentoring defined him. His boundless enthusiasm for planning off-beat athletic challenges drew family, friends and colleagues to join him in adventures both locally and globally. He reveled in teaching and challenging others to push limits of what each thought they could do. He ran with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain, surfed famous waves throughout the world, skydived in various locations, and participated in multiple marathons, triathlons and most recently, a Tough Mudder. Surfing, a life-long practice, became a passion in John’s later years. He could be found surfing regularly at Cable Road Beach, encouraging friends and strangers alike, offering his board and lessons to anyone for the asking. He is survived by his beloved wife, Jacalyn and his devoted daughter, Jennifer Sexton of Rye; three sisters, Cindy Lewis and husband John, and Eleanor Sexton of Durham, Elaine Sexton of New York City, a brother, William Sexton of Portsmouth, and several nieces and nephews. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 pm on Tuesday, August 11, 2015 in the Remick & Gendron Funeral Home, 811 Lafayette Rd., Hampton. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 am on Wednesday at the Saint Theresa Parish Church, 815 Central Rd., Rye. Burial will be in the Central Cemetery, Rye. Family and friends are respectfully invited. A Celebration of Life will immediately follow at the Wentworth by the Sea Country Club, 60 Wentworth Rd., Rye. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675 or online at www.woundedwarriorproject.org or the Massachusetts General Hospital Papillary Renal Cell Cancer Research.

John F. Sexton

April 8, 1952 - August 8, 2015