JOHN LEO TIMOTHY RACINE

John Leo Timothy Racine, age 75, passed away in Los Angeles, CA on Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 2025 after a prolonged battle with COPD. 

John was a graduate of Deerfield Academy (‘68) and Fordham University (‘73). At Deerfield, he met many lifelong friends and played various sports. He excelled at track and was captain of his 1968 track team. 

John left for California to follow his dream in 1974 and spent the next 51 years there as a New York transplant. He returned to NY every year to visit family and friends. He was an outdoor enthusiast who loved to camp, fish, hike, go rafting, boating, and was equally at home in the mountains, lakes, deserts, rivers. Some of his favorite haunts were the NY Catskills, Adirondacks, Watkins Glen, Mohonk & Minnewaska, Joshua Tree National Park, the beach in Malibu, the Delaware River, Palm Beach, Desert Hot Springs, and Round Lake in Monroe, NY. He adored all cats, dogs and children, and they loved him back. 

John was a collector; he never met a thrift shop, antique shop, flea market or tag sale he didn’t like. His collections included books, masks from around the world, CDs, DVDs, trinkets, Indian artifacts, artwork, photos, and you name it. He was a creative soul. Most of all he was a collector of people who loved him and were fascinated by him, people from all walks of life, the very rich and the less fortunate, it didn’t matter. He was like a magnet to them from his youngest years. Toward the end, he was receiving daily phone calls from friends all over the country.  He was a real character, an original, an unforgettable persona. He never really understood the positive effect he had on the world and how many lives he touched for the better. The measure of his worth was not in money or fame, but in the love he put out and received in his lifetime. He is greatly missed. 

John was predeceased by his parents, June and Leo Racine, nephew Sean Racine, and niece Alexis Racine. He is survived by brothers Timothy and William Racine, sister Mary Dryfoos, nieces Gillian Racine and Pamela Dryfoos, and nephew Bob Dryfoos, along with many cousins. A private celebration of his life will be held on Sunday, December 21, for friends and family (details TBD).

SHARE A MEMORY BELOW

A THOUGHTFUL WORD OR CHERISHED MEMORY CAN BRING COMFORT DURING THIS TIME. ON BEHALF OF THE RACINE FAMILY AND FRIENDS, WE INVITE YOU TO SHARE A PERSONAL STORY OR KIND MESSAGE THAT REFLECTS HIS LIFE AND THE MOMENTS THAT TOUCHED YOUR HEART.