John Alexander Carr

Memorial contributions may be made to:

The John Carr Memorial Rugby Fund

The fund will continue John’s sustained commitment to furthering the growth and competitiveness of rugby at James Madison university and other clubs that John supported. For more information please contact: Rob McGinnis - president, The John Carr Memorial Rugby Fund - [email protected]

John’s most treasured life manual was Deepak Chopra’s The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success.

It says “We have stopped for a moment to encounter one another, to meet, to love, to share. If we share with caring, lightheartedness, and love, we will create abundance and joy for one another. And then this moment will have been worthwhile.”

John made every moment worthwhile.

John wholeheartedly dove into every relationship and endeavor. His positive spirit radiated outward to encompass everyone he encountered. He could strike up a conversation with anyone and put a smile on their face. There was no question he saw, heard, and appreciated who you were as a person. Every interaction was uplifting and infused with enthusiasm. He loved to make people laugh with his quirky, light-hearted sense of humor which put everyone at ease.

Around John, you were always feeling the love.

We all felt it.

That feeling drew people to John like a magnet. John made fast friends and made many, but what made John so different is that once he was a friend, he was your friend for life. He was always with you through thick or thin. His commitment was unwavering, and reaching out in caring way was effortless for him.

John’s generosity was astounding. He could not hold a grudge and forgave easily. He had a big, beautiful heart. The more John gave, the more he had to give. — John was always there to help.

He had a gift for bringing people together. In life, on the rugby field, and in business, John was a dynamic leader who could assemble groups of individuals and inspire every one of them. It was always about building relationships and empowering others.

John was a visionary who saw possibilities in every situation, and loved to lead people to heights they didn’t know they could reach.

John co-founded a marketing neuroscience consultancy named Brain Surgery. It services over 420 brands in 29 countries. But what’s most remarkable about that success is that John’s approach was entirely innovative. Always striving to learn and be exceptional, John didn’t accept the norms. He went beyond those limits, designing his own process of working and operating as a company. John brought his clients entirely new ways of thinking, and growth beyond what they thought was possible, He selflessly shared his time and expertise to help people succeed and flourish. This is how John fulfilled his unique purpose in this world.

John made hard work fun — and when it was time to play he brought that same enthusiasm to the field.

John was passionate about the game of rugby. The sport epitomized his whole approach to life — be up front and charge right in there with gusto. It was the perfect vehicle for him to exert energy, while bonding with team members to accomplish a goal. As a player he was fearless and fair. As a coach, a motivating role model and teacher. His contributions in the rugby community cannot be overstated. He was responsible for orchestrating tournaments that brought thousands of people together.

John made every conversation, every day at the office, every play on the rugby field, every moment worthwhile.

The relationships he built and his joy at charging right in there with gusto left an indelible impression on the minds of so many and brought true joy to people’s lives.

I’ll close with a quote from The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success.

“We are travelers on a cosmic journey, and this moment is a little parenthesis in eternity. Life is eternal, but the expressions of life are momentary and transient. Buddha once said, “This existence of ours is as transient as autumn clouds…. A lifetime is like a flash of lightning in the sky, rushing by like a torrent down a steep mountain.”

We have stopped for a moment to encounter one another, to meet, to love, to share. If we share with caring, lightheartedness, and love, we will create abundance and joy for one another. And then this moment will have been worthwhile.”

John made this moment — and every moment — worthwhile.

John Carr's Celebration of Life event will be held on July 17, 2021 in Virginia Beach, Virginia