John Alan Cumberpatch

John’s time to leave us arrived on August 20, 2025. He came into the world on July 5, 1949, the second son of Lt. Colonel James R. Cumberpatch and Mary Ogilvie Shumate. As a military spouse, Mary O. dutifully relocated their growing family across the country from California to Alabama to Massachusetts, and many points in between in support of Jim and his distinguished career. Despite navigating new schools, new friends, and new lives every few years, the Cumberpatch family had a precious touchstone in the community of Sherwood Forest, near Annapolis. There, each summer, their grandparents Shumate offered the comfort of constancy and familiarity. Together with their perennial Sherwood playmates, the family continued a nearly now 100 year tradition that endures today.

John’s grandparents bequeathed legacies that formed the arc of his entire life. His maternal grandfather was a builder and creator, involved in construction projects both grand and modest. His paternal influence was aviation, inherited from fighter pilot father and barn stormer grandfather. John embraced both worlds, and achieved excellence in his building and aviation careers. His decision to join the FAA in 2001 enabled John to provide security and stability to his family and aviation introduced him to lifelong friends through FlightSafety International, USAirways, Baltimore FSDO, FS 400, all the way back to his flight instructor days at Mrs. Parlett’s Lee Airport.

A common passion of pilots who feel at home in the sky is a similar bond with the sea, and John is no exception. John and wife Paige “inherited” a 25’ sailboat, quickly succumbing to the highly contagious “10 foot syndrome” and moving up to a Seasprite 34, before coming to their senses and settling down with a Seasprite 23 which they sailed occasionally on the Severn River.

Although John is widely lauded for his kindness and generosity, it’s his insatiable curiosity, intellect and lifelong pursuit of self education that formed the thoughtful, sophisticated, critical thinker he was. John would say that most of his knowledge came from his real world mentors, and credits the elder craftsmen of the Parker and Dorsey families, among many others, who laid the literal foundation of his building career. He credits the Bethesda Chevy Chase Rescue Squad, who permitted him to join the squad at 17, with life lessons in Duty, Teamwork, Civic engagement, and overall maturity. John was a proud Life Member.

His interest in world history, and current and international events are evidenced by the hundreds of biographies and scholarly works that strain an entire wall of bookcases in the home that he built for his family, Paige (J.P.) and daughter Lily. Paige helped transform John from an armchair world traveler into a literal one , and after marrying in Estonia in 1993, they enjoyed visiting friends in the UK, Europe, Russia, Australia, and New Zealand. Lily came along in 1995, bringing John a deep love and pride that he never knew existed, and “Dad” was the identity he treasured most of all.

Then, better still, he became “Dad-in-Law” this July with Lily’s home garden wedding to David Lynch of Birmingham, England. John was thrilled with his new son-in-law and welcomed David’s stable 4th leg to our 3 legged family chair.

Perhaps the most enduring identity of John’s was “NJ3W”; his extra class Amateur Radio call sign. Ham radio held everything for John; the technical challenge to build his own equipment beginning with his middle school Heathkit transceiver and the ability to expand his world by reaching fellow Hams in far flung places while using the least power possible. (He was particularly proud of a Kazakhstan contact!) Perhaps the greatest attraction for him was its elegance; to send a radio signal via the simplest means possible to the furthest reaches, maybe even beyond our world.

Four days before John’s passing, as the light of this world was beginning to dim, Lily presented him with a gift that closed his life’s loop and brought him indescribable joy: her just-earned amateur radio license, call sign KD8BUY. His life, love, and legacy are now taken up by his next generation. So John, if you are out there and can hear us, Lily will be first to know.

Family remembrances of John are private, but we invite you to gather with friends who also knew and admired John from any of his varied interests and raise a glass to a truly extraordinary man.