John was born in Lancaster, PA on May 25, 1940, son of Helen Hudson Auld and John Thomas Auld. In his early years he developed a love of sports which led to his lifelong passions of soccer and lacrosse. He graduated from Perkiomen School and Brown University participating in these sports as a player and later as a coach and then referee. It was at Brown that he met his wife Susan Daniels Auld on a ski trip to the White Mountains in New Hampshire. They settled in Rhode Island and welcomed the arrival of their daughters Julia and Betsy. They eventually moved to a Vermont farmhouse, which was perfect for giving their girls a love of horses, which began with John’s plan to buy wild ponies on a family trip to Chincoteague, Virginia.
As these family adventures were happening, his professional life progressed from the early days as an English Professor to a Drug and Alcohol Program Administrator to working for Congressman James M. Jeffords to his ultimate path in real estate. While this work included residential real estate in the early days, for most of his career he focused on commercial real estate, starting in Vermont and continuing in Florida with SLC Commercial. John was a member of the St. Lucie Association of REALTORS, the Economic Development Council of St. Lucie County, and earned his Certified Commercial Investment Member designation.
John had a lifelong passion for soccer, refereeing more than 3,500 games over five decades at all levels, becoming a mentor to many referees in Martin and St. Lucie counties. He was a member of the National Intercollegiate Soccer Official Association, a state instructor and assessor, and a lifetime member of United States Soccer Federation.
John and Susan traveled the world exploring their ancestral connections in England, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, Portugal, and Germany. They traveled to Asia, South America and even a driving tour of the United States visiting presidential libraries, national parks, and family along the way.
John leaves behind the love of his life, Susan Auld, his daughters Julia Auld Madden and Bethany Auld Bishop and his three grandchildren, Patrick Madden, Bridget Sidlovsky, and Duncan Bishop. He also leaves behind his sister Judy Byrd and her children Lisa Rohr, Casey Trayler, and JR Byrd and their families.
John chose to have his ashes scattered at sea and there will also be a celebration of his life at Aycock Funeral Home on Tradition Parkway in Port St. Lucie on May 3, 2025 at 10:00 am.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to the Episcopal Church of the Nativity at 151 SW Del Rio Blvd., Port Saint Lucie, FL 34953.