It's with immense sadness I announce...
John passed at 102 years YOUNG
December 2023
WORKING HARD
JOHN & MIKE = LEGENDS
JOHN & JAY = SANTA ANITA
READY FOR HIS CLOSEUP!
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
I HAVE HOURS AND HOURS OF INTERVIEWS / AUDIO RECORDINGS OF THIS WONDERFUL MAN, NUMEROUS PHOTOS FROM MANY YEARS THAT I TOOK OF HIM, HIS LOVELY WIFE AND ADORABLE PUP, AND OTHER INFORMATION I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF HIM SHARING WITH ME TO PUBLISH A BOOK I WAS GIVEN PERMISSION TO WRITE ABOUT HIM, AND HIS AMAZING LIFE.
IT WAS EXCRUCIATINGLY SADLY PUT ON HOLD DUE TO ... ???
THE OUTLINE AND QUITE A LOT IS ALREADY FINISHED IN REGARD TO THE BOOK SO,
IT'S MY HOPE TO COMPLETE IT ANYWAY AT SOME POINT, AND SHARE HIS LIFE - A LOT OF IT IS ALREADY KNOWN AND PRESENTED BY MANY OTHERS PRIOR TO MY DOING IT - ARTICLES, VIDEOS, MAGAZINES, NEWSPAPERS, ETC., BUT THE INFORMATION HE SHARED WITH ME MIGHT BE NEW TO SOME, AND ENCOURAGE AND REMIND OTHERS TO ALWAYS LIVE THEIR LIFE TO THE FULLEST - NO EXCUSES.
PREVIOUS INFO BEFORE HE RETIRED AT THE SPRY OLD AGE OF... WAIT FOR IT... 100!!!
Have you ever been to Santa Anita to watch horse racing BEFORE COVID? If so, you likely met John Shear. You couldn't miss him - he was the wonderful man who controlled the gates to keep spectators a safe distance from the horses.
A search for his name will show how he took his responsibility to an extreme, when one day a horse did get loose. He reacted immediately and kept a beautiful little girl from harm, only to be trampled upon by the horse himself. I doubt many would want to be around horses, much less work there again, after the extensive damage and recovery that act entailed but, nope, not John. He was back at at the track doing an amazing job as soon as the doctors allowed.
John has now retired but worked hard and still managed to happily greet everyone he came in contact with and, undoubtedly brightened many a day. Whether you were celebrating a win, or in need of a smile and some encouragement after a loss - he was your man, and is my friend.
He's been all over the news but, after meeting and speaking with him and his wife, Diane, even a little bit, I realized there was SO much more of his story to be told. He graciously gave me permission to write his biography and I have accumulated HOURS AND HOURS of recordings and notes and have looked through numerous photographs and memorabilia. It was truly a blessing, privilege, and such a pleasure to get to know him better through this process. It's still my hope to publish and share more of his amazing life with others. Fingers crossed.
NOTE: AS OF 2021, DUE TO COVID AND ISSUES AT SANTA ANITA/OTHER CA RACE TRACKS, AND ADDITIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES FAR BEYOND MY CONTROL... SADLY, HIS BIO IS ALMOST FINISHED BUT HAS BEEN PUT ON HOLD.
THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED SHOULD THE EXTREMELY UNFORTUNATE SITUATION(S) CHANGE IN THE FUTURE.
This is possibly the link to follow John on Facebook "JohnShearFanPage"
