LACONIA ---- John Joseph Ganong, 74 years of age, passed away peacefully at his home with his wife Brenda Ganong by his side on Wednesday, January 1, 2025, at 11:11 am.
He was born on November 23, 1950, in Somerville, Massachusetts (MA). His childhood was filled with the love and joy of his late brother, Paul Ganong, and sister, Anne Marie Leary, as well as his loving parents, Paul G. and Mary (Kelly) Ganong.
John grew up in Somerville, MA, and graduated from Somerville High School in 1969. During his childhood, he fostered incredible long-term friendships that lasted throughout his days. While living in Massachusetts, he spent most of his weekends and vacation days at his family’s property on Hilliard Road in Laconia, New Hampshire, where he learned about the joy of Lake Winnipesaukee and the differences of life in the country versus the city. He also discovered an annual tradition that became one of his favorite weeks of the year, Laconia Bike Week, and he became a “Motorcycle Man” in 1976 with the purchase of his Kawasaki KZ900. John, his brother, and closest friends went on to ride their motorcycles on the open roads together in the decades that followed. During his younger years, he was notably a great boxer, speedskater, racquetball player, and basketball player before growing up to be an entrepreneur at heart. John was a muscle car enthusiast, loved street racing in the suburbs of Boston, and his passion for noise and excitement never stopped.
In 1973, he married his former wife and mother of his children, Elizabeth Searles. They went on to have his wonderful daughter, Kristy Ganong, in March of 1979 and his loving son, Jason Ganong, in May of 1982. In 1985, the family relocated to Weirs Beach, Laconia, NH, to join the amazing community. John was one of the many “city slickers” that joined the community and somehow, they all connected through their original city roots, establishing bonds that were inseverable. During his early years, while fostering new relationships in the area, he enjoyed fishing and ice skating on Pickerel Cove, night cruises to The Broads of Lake Winnipesaukee under the stars, and networking at the local watering holes such as Karl’s, Christmas Island Steakhouse, Crossroads, Nothin’ Fancy, Smokehouse, The Cackling Crow, The Lobster Pound and Gulbicki’s Gas Station!
John was a hardworking entrepreneur who started many successful businesses along the way and also supported every other entrepreneur in the area. He was a salesman at heart who always wanted to refer business to other owners for locally generated support. He was the owner of The Groundskeeper, a landscaping business until he found his love for real estate, when he joined the Century 21, Keewaydin office with some of his favorite longstanding real estate colleagues and friends. John was always so grateful for all that he learned in his early days as an agent and had an affinity for teaching new agents, many of which remain in the real estate community today. He went on to open his own real estate offices under Ganong Real Estate before eventually returning to his true home in real estate, the welcoming office of Roche Realty Group. He sold many properties multiple times over in the Lake Region area over the past 35 years. He also owned and operated multiple restaurants, including Jeff the Chef, Bridgeway Restaurant and Nothin’ Fancy. His other businesses included a car dealership, a trucking company, an insulation and vinyl siding business, a Hawaiian shaved ice shop, and most recently, a small apparel business under the Nothin’ Fancy name. He also found time to volunteer as a coach for the Lou Athanas basketball league, where he impacted many young players that still call him “Coach.”
In 1998, John met his caring wife, Brenda Ganong, who supported him in all of his adventures. They have enjoyed many years of riding motorcycles together, hosting barbecues, and welcoming even strangers that became friends into their home for a burger and a beer. They also enjoyed some of the latest and greatest social places, all of which are incredible supporters of the local community, such as Bernini Italian Pizzeria and Wine Bar, The Looney Bin, and High Octane Saloon. Over the years, you could often (or always) find John somehow with a microphone in his hands, singing some of his favorite songs with a band, singing Karaoke, or playing the drums if he had the opportunity. He was always charismatic, with a fond desire to be the master of ceremonies. John and Brenda also enjoyed establishing fundraisers for an exceptional number of beneficiaries, including Brenda’s Ride for Cancer, The Laconia Sports Benefit for Children, Celebrity Bartender events benefiting Tufts Medical Center, the Laconia Fire Department, and other fundraisers for individuals. With their commitment to providing funding for “goodness” combined with the unbelievable support and participation from the local community, they raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for others in need. To those participating community members and businesses, you know who you are; John is forever grateful for each of you making every fundraising event a success!
John, otherwise known as “The Bionic Man,” experienced an exceptional number of medical surgeries beginning at the age of 52 when he had his first heart valve replacement and aortic patch. He later went on to have a pacemaker installed, a defibrillator implanted, and even lived with an LVAD (Left Ventricular Assist Device), or as he would call it, an electronic heart, while waiting for a much-needed heart donation. One year later, on January 4, 2011, he was graciously offered a new heart and received a heart transplant, which was performed by Tufts Medical Center in Boston, MA. He had many other medical procedures in the years that followed. Thanks to the amazing doctors and nurses, and most notably Dr. David DeNofrio and his team, John lived many additional years and was able to attend his children’s weddings, meet and enjoy time with his five grandchildren, and continue to live life to the fullest! He was a man of integrity and was afforded the opportunity to teach his family the true values of life; the importance of treating people with kindness and respect; how to have fun; and to always seek thrills. John was forever grateful for all that everyone has done for him, including giving him those extra years that he cherished so deeply. He was a tenacious man, a fighter, and had the will to keep going like no other, but always knew he had the support of his doctors and nurses, that, like everyone else, became his valued friends.
From John’s family - we want to express our upmost appreciation to Tufts Medical Center, Dr. Denofrio, Dr. Kiernan, Dr. Salehi and their teams; Catholic Medical Center, Dr. Patten and the CMC staff; Comfort Keepers, Home Instead and the nurses and caretakers that have taken care of him over the years; those close friends that were always there to support him; the community members that loved him; and most importantly, the donor family that provided him with 14 additional years of an amazing life.
To all of John’s family, friends and the rest of the community, just like the old days, please just “have one more” and continue to smile and laugh, dance, enjoy live music and instruments, ride your motorcycles and boats, and continue to seek thrills. Have the will to keep going because life is wonderful, so live it to its fullest like John Ganong did!
John is survived by his wife, Brenda Ganong; his children: Kristy Ganong Blanchard and her husband Rich of Tewksbury, MA; Jason Ganong and his wife Michelle “Belle” of Gilford, NH; Christina Day and her husband Keith of Northfield, NH; his grandchildren: Benjamin Gloddy, Jackson Blanchard, Kyle Day, Jasper Blanchard, and Grayson Ganong; his sister Anne Marie Leary; and many nieces, nephews, and friends who have become family. John was predeceased by his grandparents, his parents, Paul G. and Mary Ganong, his brother Paul E. Ganong, and many friends who were lost too soon.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Tufts Medical Center, Advanced Heart Failure Program where John received his care. To make a gift please visit https://giving.tuftsmedicalcenter.org/give-now , select “other” and type in Advanced Heart Failure Program or you can mail your donation to the address below; please indicate you’re making a gift in memory of John to the Advanced Heart Failure Program or for mailing donations: Tufts Medical Center Development Office, ATTN: Katie Puzo, 800 Washington Street, Box 231, Boston, MA, 02111.
The family of John Joseph Ganong (1950-2025) will be gathering to celebrate his life, listen to music, dance, smile, laugh, share a story or two, burn some rubber, and toast to a man who did it “My Way.” They’d be honored if you’d join them at High Octane Saloon, 1072 Watson Road, Laconia, NH, on Saturday, January, 11, 2025, from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services/603Cremations.com, 164 Pleasant St., Laconia, NH, 03246, is assisting the family with arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial, please visit wilkinsonbeane.com.