John Thomas Pruner III

John was born and raised in Seattle and graduated from Ingraham High School. He was a pioneer in the world of collecting in-person sports and celebrity autographs, and was dubbed “The Godfather” by fellow collectors. Long before the days of TMZ, ebay or even cell phones, John began tracking down celebrities and asking for an autograph and a photo with them. For a long time, not many celebrities could make it through Seattle without encountering John along with his friends and competitors. He frequently traveled to LA and New York using the same methods - get to the venue early and wait as long as it takes, follow them to the hotel, and always use a blue pen. He met the biggest names alive, from Frank Sinatra and Paul McCartney, to Michael Jordan and Muhammed Ali. He was one of the first on the Seattle ‘grunge’ scene in the early 90s, meeting bands such as Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, and Soundgarden.

John was Sammy Hagar’s number one fan, attending over 200 concerts. Sammy frequently thanked “Big John,” and would even bring him on stage at times. Sammy also gives John credit for giving him his nickname “The Red Rocker.” John loved food, music, and all Seattle sports, and was also an accomplished bowler. He could often be seen driving around in, and working on, his fully restored, prize winning 55 Chevy.

John suffered from constant health issues throughout a large portion of his life, but his stubbornness and determination always helped him bounce back and keep on enjoying life. He received a kidney transplant which lasted nearly 15 years, and would encourage everyone to become an organ donor. John enjoyed a wide circle of friends that he made through his shared interests and hobbies. His passing has created a large void that will be long felt by his family, many friends and colleagues. John is survived by his cousins, Karen Merriam and Renee Gordon, and his beloved dog PJ.

John will be interred at Holyrood Cemetery, Shoreline, WA.