Obituary of John Patrick Kane

John Patrick Kane, 82, of Cortland, New York, passed away peacefully at home on December 8, 2024. He was the son of John Roche Kane and Alice (Roe) Kane. John attended the Cortland College Campus School, andgraduated from Cortland High School (1960) and SUNY Cortland. He taught English at Tully Central School for five years and then at Camillus Middle School, retiring (Tier 1) in 1999. John and wife Kathy lived on OtiscoLake for forty years, where they raised their two daughters, before returning to their hometown. For many years they summered in Cortland and wintered in Venice, Florida. John was a news junkie and a history and genealogy buff. His many interests included gardening; classic boats, motorcycles and cars; cooking and fermenting (wine and beer-making, kraut, kimchee, pickles).

Music was John’s passion. He played and recorded professionally (tenor and soprano sax) through six decades beginning circa 1955 with the Campus Kings, a dixielandjazz band under the direction of Sam Forcucci. Jazz, R&B, and soul were John’s favored musical styles, playing with many groups including the Soul Brothers, Dave Hanlon’s Cookbook, Out of the Blue, the Jazz Minds, and Applejazz. John was a third-generation member of the musicians union (AF of M).

John was predeceased by his parents and by his younger brother David in 1960. Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Kathleen (Cummins) Kane; daughters Adrienne (Kenneth) Beck and Erin Kane (Christopher Dolan); his two adored grandchildren, Monica and Colin Beck; his sister Judith (Leroy) Strickland; and many nieces, nephews, and in-laws.

No services are planned, per John’s wishes. Your support of the arts and music education in public schools will honor his memory.