John R. Garcia was born on September 29, 1930 and passed away at 92 on April 13, 2023. Born in Sacramento, John grew up and lived most of his life  in his beloved town of Pittsburg, California. He graduated from Pittsburg High School in 1948, where he was the captain of both the track and basketball teams. There he met the love of his life, Faith Victoria (Vicky) Lucido Garcia. They married in 1950.

John loved growing up and living in Pittsburg. He fondly remembered one of his first jobs selling newspapers at the entrance of Camp Stoneman, and another of painting the high school gym with his best friend Woody Carlson. After marrying, John and Vicky lived in Woodland for a short time before moving to Antioch, where he was an accountant for Fiberboard Corporation. During this time John became a Sergeant in the National Guard. Soon after, he joined Sure-Fit-Door Company as a partner and office/general manager. John also prepared income taxes for many years in hundreds of his friends' and families' homes (for those who could not pay, he accepted cookies). Later he was elected Pittsburg City Treasurer, a position he held with great pride and devotion for 36 years. He was particularly proud of being a founder in bringing the Junior Youth Football League to the city. He enjoyed his position as the president of the Contra Costa Democrat party, where he had the honor of meeting both Robert and Ted Kennedy. He was instrumental in bringing the first senior care facility to the city. The city appreciated John by naming Garcia Drive (Garcia & Harbor) in Pittsburg in his honor.

John was driven by honesty, truth and integrity. He was nonjudgmental and forgiving. He was an enormous support to all members of his family. And that family extended to all the people in the hometown he loved; he always fought for those in need as their advocate. He treasured friendship, and taught his children that friendship meant being present not just for the good times, but also for the bad times. He enjoyed meeting, talking, laughing, telling stories of the past and debating with his friends at Al's Hot Dog Stand, where you could find him for lunch nearly every day, and later at the coffee shop for breakfast and/or lunch with his group of friends and brother Jack. He missed these special times later, once he moved to Benicia, near his daughter Elizabeth (Garcia) Verigin, son-in-law Steve Verigin, and his son John and daughter-in-law Vicki (Nelson) Garcia.

John was preceded in death by his sister Carmen Lorentson and brother Jack Garcia. He leaves behind his loving best friend and beloved wife Vicky, three children, four grandchildren and ten great grandchildren. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him.

The family will hold a private memorial service.