John Patrick Linstroth

John P. Linstroth, 84, went to be with Jesus on October 18, 2024. Born on June 30, 1940, in Minneapolis, MN, John was pre-deceased by his parents John H. Linstroth and Margaret W. Linstroth, and is the grandson of James T. Williams, pioneering founder of the Creamette Macaroni Company. John was fortunate to grow up in Minnesota during the idyllic 1940’s and 50’s spending summers in the northern Minnesota woodlands and surviving long and cold Minnesota winters while delivering newspapers in subzero weather. John attended Marquette University graduating in 1962 followed by a brief tenure at the University of Minnesota Law School. John entered the US Navy in the spring of 1963 and earned his Navy Flight Wings in 1964. John was assigned to Helicopter Squadron Five, Quonset Point, RI. Prior to joining HS-5, John attended US Navy Intelligence School. While attached to HS-5, John flew the Sikorsky Sea King Helicopter. During John’s tenure with HS-5, the squadron made numerous deployments on six different aircraft carriers. John was especially proud his squadron was involved in the recovery of several Gemini and Apollo spacecrafts. Upon discharge from the active Navy in 1968, John attended Columbia University where he earned a Master’s in Business Administration. While at Columbia, John continued to fly in the US Navy Reserve out of Floyd Bennett Field, Brooklyn, NY. During turbulent years of 1968 and 1969, while John was attending Columbia, the school was the site of numerous anti-Vietnam War student riots. The US Navy asked John to recruit for the US Navy Aviation Program on the Columbia campus in January 1969, which touched off one of the largest demonstrations against the Vietnam War at the time. This event resulted in a Defense Department decision to discontinue all “college campus” military recruitment for decades. Following graduation from Columbia, John moved with his family to Dearborn, Michigan, where John joined the Ford Motor Company as a member of the Finance Staff. In January 1973, John left Ford to join the Perini Land and Development Company in West Palm Beach. John was the long-time president of Perini Development during the building boom of the 70’s and 80’s. During that time, John guided the company through the major developments in WPB, including the Lands of the President, Villages of Palm Beach Lakes, Bear Lakes Country Club, and Olympus (Jupiter). In 1976, John had the privilege to develop a close friendship with John D. MacArthur. John maintained his special relationship with John D. until Mr. Mac’s death in 1978. In 1988, John left Perini to form his own company in partnership with Mitsubishi Estate Ltd., Tokyo. The partnership purchased more than 8,000 acres of land along the I-95 corridor in Martin and St. Lucie counties. John devoted eleven years of his business life improving these sites, including the development and planting of 450,000 citrus trees. Regretfully, Mitsubishi suffering from business set-backs on other ventures in the US and Japan, forced the dissolution of the partnership and the sale of the partnership properties just as they were coming into the early bloom of their development. Undeterred, John embarked on two decades of world-wide travel adventures which eventually would include visits to more than 120 countries. John has been involved as a leader in many community activities including the United Way of Palm Beach County, where he served as Fund Drive Chairman in 1979 and President from 1980 to 1982. In 1983, John received the John D. MacArthur Business Man-of-the-Year Award from the Palm Beach Post. In 1982, the Post named John as one of the Ten Most Important Leaders in Palm Beach County. In 1992, John co-founded the Outback Steakhouse High School All Star Football Game, and directed this program for 11 years. John was a long-time member of the Barnett Bank Board of Directors; served for ten years as Trustee for the Palm Beach Day School; served on the Florida State University Foundation Board of Trustees; appointed by Governor Lawton Chiles to serve on the State of Florida Affordable Housing Commission; and was appointed by Governor Jeb Bush to serve two terms on the Florida Commission on Ethics. John served two terms on the 4th District Judicial Nomination Commission. John served for nine years on the Board of the Center for International Private Enterprise in Washington, DC; John was proud of his run for mayor of West Palm Beach in 1999 where he displayed leadership and integrity in his runoff loss. John is survived by his three beloved children: son, Dr. John P. Linstroth II; daughter, Molly Del Re (Joseph); and son, Michael Linstroth (Robyn). John especially treasured the love of his grandchildren: Alexandra Del Re and Peyton Del Re; Robin Michael (deceased) Linstroth, Ruby Louise Linstroth and Bolen Linstroth. His most joyful moments were in the company of these angels. In addition, John is survived by his sisters Catherine Stewart and Margaret Francis; and brothers, Thomas Linstroth, Peter Linstroth, and Paul Linstroth. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests considering a charitable donation in John's memory to Catholic Charities Diocese of Palm Beach, Inc. https://www.ccdpb.org/get-involved/donate.html

John Patrick Linstroth

June 3, 1940 - October 18, 2024