John B. Houck

John Burton Houck died peacefully at home in Los Angeles on June 20, at the age of 96. He was born and grew up in Mt. Clemens, MI. John attended the University of Michigan, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1949, an M.A. in 1951, and a Juris Doctor in 1953. He was a member of the Order of the Coif and the Editorial Board of the Michigan Law Review. John started his career as an associate at Milbank, Tweed, Hope & Hadley in NYC from 1953-56, joining the New York Bar in 1955. He was an assistant secretary at Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, MI, from 1956-59, joining the Michigan Bar in 1957. John worked at Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue from 1959-1993, becoming a partner in 1963. From 1959-81, he was an attorney in the Cleveland office, and from 1981-93 he worked in the Los Angeles office. He joined the Ohio bar in 1960 and the California Bar in 1979. He was a member of the Section Council, International Law Section, of the American Bar Association from 1979-88. After retirement, John participated in arbitrations in California as a member of the American Arbitration Association.

In 1950, John married Wanda Wright; they were classmates in both high school and college. They were married until Wanda’s death in 2013. John leaves three children, Lisa Houck, William Houck, and Katherine Parenteau, and their spouses Alan Ringel, Tracy Lucente, and Jacques Parenteau. He had three beloved grandchildren, Amelia Parenteau, Jules Parenteau, and Harrison Ringel, and their partners Brady Carrington, and Carla Hauck, as well as a great-granddaughter, Juniper Ringel.

John was the consummate family man. Even while pursuing a challenging career, he made it a priority to be home in evenings, often to play catch with one or more of his three children. He led many hikes where wandering off the path was part of the fun. With friends, he made furniture and a catamaran sailboat in the 1960s. He created an Art Nouveau room in the family home, complete with stained glass windows, a marble floor, and carved cabinetry. After retirement, he dove into cooking and traveling, even becoming a homeowner in the Dordogne region of France for a time. John was an accomplished craftsman and later in life made a series of unique, architectural lamps. He enjoyed a weekly bike ride with friends along the beach in Santa Monica, topped off with a beer. He was an avid tennis player, and a longtime member of the Riviera Tennis Club, where he played until he was 94. He will be remembered for his intelligence, his dry quick wit, and his constant interest in and curiosity about people and life. Donations can be made in memory of John Houck to the University of Michigan. Payable to: The Regents of the University of Michigan, U-M Gift & Records Administration, 3003 S. State Street, Suite 8000, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1288.