John E Clements Jr.

September 19, 1927-May 23, 2022

John was preceded in death by his loving wife of 44 years, Carmita Sequero Clements. He is survived by his 4 children, Jeff Clements (partner MaryBeth Browne) from New Jersey, Linda Baumann (husband Mark) from Colorado, James Clements (wife Joyce) from Nebraska and John Clements, III (wife Lynne) from Colorado. John enjoyed 11 grandkids and 9 great grandkiddos-plus 1 making an entrance in early July.

John was born in Topeka, Kansas minutes before his twin, Julia, to Nira Daw Clements and John Clements. He was the only boy out of 5 siblings. He served his country in World War II in the army and used the G.I. bill to attend/graduate from Washburn University in Kansas.

John moved to Washington, D.C. to work for the Food & Drug Administration and attend Georgetown University. His life was forever changed, at one cocktail party, where he met his match in wits and intelligence with Carmita, from Brooklyn, N.Y. They married six months later in N.Y. on April 19, 1953. They stayed in D.C. while John finished his Ph.D. in Chemistry and Carmita worked at the U.S. Department of Education before moving to N.Y.

John and Carmita welcomed Jeff and Linda to their family while living in Westbury, Long Island before moving to Montville, NJ (1967) and adding Jamie and John to the pack. Life was idyllic in the community of Lake Valhalla where their kiddos enjoyed swimming, boating, and tennis in the summers at the nearby lake. John’s life was full with commuting to New York City to work for Pfizer Pharmaceuticals as a Chemist (38 years), officiating at summer swim meets, volunteering on the poison control hotline, and bowling in the local league. John held several patents while he was working diligently at Pfizer.

John was the O.G. of Gadget Guys. He could have cobbled together a menagerie of toys that would rival Sharper Image just from his study. In the 1970’s, there was a computer and printer in the household. He delighted his children with images of Snoopy, the Dog from his I.B.M. Dot matrix printer. John built a 21-inch T.V. for a console in the family room.

He always made time to teach his kids how to shoot a basket, throw a baseball, drive a car, and tutored them in any subject. Other lessons like working hard, saving for a rainy day, and being truthful were learned simply by watching his actions and listening to his words. Long days and short years ensued during the child rearing years in New Jersey.

In 1993, retirement brought about a move to Sun City West, AZ for John and Carmita where John’s pursuits included golfing, computer club, bowling, and the Audubon Society. John had carved out a space in his new home for the computers he amassed over the years and could often be found tinkering on them for hours on end. Trips to their treasured Sedona were enjoyed often and they finally took their cruise to Alaska.

An indelible date, Sept 19, 1997, marked John’s 70th birthday and his beloved wife’s passing from an unexpected and short-lived illness. John embraced this new challenge of living on his own by diving into his activities and increasing his visits East to chase grandkids.

2004 brought a new set of challenges for John when he suffered a massive stroke that left his right side paralyzed and brought on aphasia. Temerity and therapy brought back John’s right side function, but his aphasia remained. Nobody’s fool, John lived his life, his way. One time, when he didn’t like the treatment, he was receiving in the hospital, he disconnected his I.V.’s and heart monitor and was found at the elevator in his hospital gown, ready to check-out. Another time, when his caregiver didn’t pick him up at the Phoenix Airport, he managed to hail a cab and get a 45-minute ride home.

John moved in with his daughter, Linda, and her husband, Mark in 2016 along with 5 of his computers. He enjoyed martinis, music and many visits from grandkids and great grandkids. Classical music was followed by the rosary and then usually a movie or the original Star Trek and always exercise. He pushed himself to get in 1800 steps a day even after a walker was in the mix. Tracking this was measured with not one, but two Fitbits. Daily soundchecks on the surround sound system that Mark installed in his room occurred twice daily, religiously. Then there was the weekly sound check that could be heard throughout the house. Not to be confused with the monthly sound check that alerted the neighbors, John’s system was, in fact, working well.

John was able communicate in his own way, what worked for him. When daily care was added for a couple of hours, there was a 72-point checklist. But once the caregivers mastered the order, all was fine, and routines never varied. John looked forward to the extra help. It was practically a spa day, every day for the nonagenarian!

In 2019, John moved into a wonderful, assisted living place when he went into a wheelchair full-time. In 2020, he moved into a skilled nursing facility named Someren Glen in Centennial, CO. where they embraced John’s routine with love, compassion, and exceptional care. In the end, John’s body gave out and not his will.

Favorite consistencies about John-

John’s smile was magnetic and even more so for the Blondes in his orbit.

Beefeater Gin Martini while thinking about Vermouth and two olives, not one, not three, just two.

Mainlining Whoppers.

Never met a vegetable he liked.

Reading every instruction manual, cover to cover, before plugging in/turning on something new.

P.S.-If you own stock in Whoppers, malted milk balls…sell immediately. Without John’s consumption, they’re sure to go out of business.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.sunlandmemorial.com for the Clements family.