Canisteo, New York
John F. Gore – (95) – of 24 Union St., Canisteo, died early Monday morning (October 23, 2023) at Elderwood at Hornell Nursing Facility, following a long illness.
Born in Buffalo, NY on September 21, 1928, he was the son of Michael & Nora (Sullivan) Gore.
John grew up in Buffalo and was a graduate of Sacred Heart Elementary School (class of 1942). He later graduated from East High School in Buffalo (class of 1946).
Following high school graduation, John enlisted in the United States Army, and served his country from 1946 – 1948 at the end of WWII earning the Victory Medal.
After being honorably discharged from the Army, John enrolled at the University of Buffalo earning his Bachelor’s Degree in Geography and becoming a school teacher. While teaching in various public schools in the Buffalo-Niagara Falls area, he earned his master’s degree in education at the University of Buffalo. During the summer months of the early 1960s, he took courses at Harvard University and worked part time in the lab of psychologist B.F. Skinner.
Throughout the years, John taught History and Social Studies at several Buffalo Area Schools and also taught for a year in Ripley, NY. In 1964 he began working for the Steuben-Allegany BOCES as a Driver’s Education instructor, a position that he held until his retirement in 1984. In 1986, John and Jeanne moved from Canisteo, where they had lived since 1970, to sunny Florida. From 1986 – 2007 he and his wife, Jeanne, resided in Port St. Lucie, FL, but for about 12 years he would return to New York State where he taught summer school classes in driver’s education in Allegany County schools. They returned to Canisteo in 2007.
John was a spiritual man who was known to attend both St. Ann’s Church in Hornell and Christ Episcopal Church in Hornell and had many friends in both churches. He had been a member of the Hornell Elks Lodge, Hornell Moose Lodge, Hornell Association, the Canisteo American Legion, and the Kanestio Historical Society. He was a friendly fellow whose dry sense of humor that had a way of sneaking up on others.
A true “history buff,” John loved reading and learning about WWI and WWII, the horrors of the Holocaust, and the Cold War era. He enjoyed collecting 78 RPM Records from the early 1900s and vintage radios and wind up-phonographs. He was an avid coin collector who enjoyed listening to early 20th century vocalists such as Henry Burr, John McCormick, and Al Jolson. He belonged to the Al Jolson Society, a type of fan club whose members work to preserve Jolson’s music legacy for these times. John also loved watching classic movies including silent movies and the early ‘Talkies.”
Having grown up during the great depression, John had a keen sense of what people of that era endured and enjoyed reading and studying about those most difficult times. He wrote his own memoirs about his experiences entitled “The Birds Fly Upside Down” and was a contributor to the book “Frozen Laundry & Depression Soup,” a compilation of ordinary people’s accounts of the great depression.
John was preceded in death by his sister, Maureen Angus; and four brothers, Kerry Gore, Daniel Gore, Kevin gore and Gerald Gore.
He was married on April 13, 1968, to the former Jeanne Rifenburg, who survives. Also surviving are his brother, Robert Gore of Amherst, NY, along with many beloved nieces and nephews.
At John’s request there will be no calling hours. Family & friends are invited to attend a Memorial Service to be held on Thursday, November 2, 2023 at 1:00 PM at the Hornell Elks Lodge, Broadway Mall, Hornell, NY. A “Celebration of Life” will follow downstairs in the Elks Lounge.
Funeral arrangements are in care of the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church St., Hornell, NY.
John’s family request that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in his name be made to: Hornell Humane Society, 7649 Industrial Park Road, Hornell, NY 14843 OR Roswell Comprehensive Cancer Treatment Center, 665 Elm Street, Buffalo, NY 14203.
To leave an online condolence or share a memory, visit www.dagonfuneralhome.com.
Dear Aunt Jeanne: We are so sad to hear about beloved Uncle Jack passing away today. What a wonderful man who was a fantastic uncle. We are praying for you and honored that we knew our Uncle Jack.
Love,
Mike & Lisa Gore
John Gore taught me one of the most critical skills I ever learned in high school or college. He taught me how to safely drive a car. I have traveled over a million miles in my life and John’s teachings saved my life more than once.
Countless times while driving John’s words would come ringing back to me:
“Aim high on the steering wheel”
“Take in the big picture”
“Leave yourself an out”
“Hands at ten and two”
“Steer into the skid”
And every time I drive by a pile of leaves along the road and I mean EVERY time I look out for Alphonso
Godspeed John Gore
We have enjoyed your friendship over many years – teaching together plus gatherings at the historical society.
Thank you for sharing so many stories with us of “the old days.” We will miss you.
So sorry to hear about the passing of John Gore, my driving instructor at CCS. A story I still love to tell about those days is when a classmate of mine, a farm boy who probably learned how to drive when he was 5, pretended he didn’t know how to drive while in driving class. We in the car almost peed our pants as he lurched about while driving down the street with Mr Gore trying to “instruct” him before we crashed into a tree. After reading his bio and the interesting life he led, I regret never really getting to know him as a human being rather than “my teacher.” His wife, Jeanne, came to town to teach and my class was the first class she encountered in a CCS classroom. Great memories of her, too; a very young teacher trying to relate to my classmates and me. I did get a chance to relate to both of them years later as an adult when I would come home to visit my Mother or go to class reunions. What a shame that I never really got to know him and learn about his very full life; the man who taught me one of the most important skills in life. RIP, Mr. Gore. And all my best thoughts and prayers to you, Miss Rifenburg.