John R. Jr. Whitney

John R. Whitney, Jr. “Whit”, Sept. 6, age 92, formerly of Dedham and Concord, son of the late John Randall and Mary Hunter Whitney of Hingham and Boston, died peacefully after a sudden decline.  John grew up in Hingham with his sister, the late Joan Schaup, and received his diploma from The Governor’s Academy in Byfield.  He briefly attended college in Connecticut after serving as a gunner in the U.S. Army, Battery D, 136th Anti Aircraft Battalion, in Europe during World War II.  He was also a former member of the Concord Independent Battery.  John’s professional life was in sales where he joined his father at The John R. Whitney Company, eventually running the firm, as a marine and industrial product manufacturers’ representative.  John had a lifelong passion for canoeing and camping and, for decades, served as New England sales representative for the Old Town Canoe Company.  John was an ardent photographer and outdoor enthusiast who spent many summers in Camden, Maine where he served as Commodore of the Camden Yacht Club as well as President of the Megunticook Watershed Association.  “Whit” frequently shared his love for the great Maine woods, including as a longtime member of Yoke Pond Camps, introducing many family members and friends to this great joy.  John is survived by his beloved wife, Katharine M. “Kay” Whitney (MacDuffie), and their children, John R. Whitney III and wife-to-be Sara Mead of West Newbury, Lynn H. Whitney and husband Claude Fixler of Ohio, Pat Martinez Mumford and husband Larry of California, James M. Martinez, Jr. and wife Kathleen Gurren of Virginia, Peter M. Martinez and wife Lindsey Brace Martinez of Dedham, and Hugh W. Martinez and wife Linda Harding of Newburyport, as well as four grandchildren, six step-grandchildren, one great grandchild, and four step-great grandchildren.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Megunticook Watershed Association, P.O. Box 443, Camden, ME 04843, or by going to www.megunticook.org and clicking “donate.” Services and interment will be private.