Obituary of Mr. John P. Collins

January 1, 2020

John Patrick Collins was born to John and Dorothy Collins on June 17, 1949, on Staten Island, New York. Both of his parents preceded him in death. While John may have been an only child, he was raised within the supportive community of many dear relatives, including 13 first cousins alone, who lived nearby and to whom he was always known as Jack. He received his early education at Blessed Sacrament School in his local parish, sharing his musical talents by playing the organ for many church services.



In many ways, John felt his worldview was formed when he won a place in the Class of 1967 at Regis High School in Manhattan. Regis enriched his knowledge of the arts and there he began to cultivate his passions for theater and music.



John earned his first degree as an English major at Fordham University in the Bronx in 1971. Although he considered himself "a dabbler, a dilettante" as he struggled to find his true calling, John began working part-time in the classified ads department at the Daily News, a paper he claimed never to have read. But he continued at the News while also pursuing a Master's degree in English at NYU at night. In 1979, he moved to the National Broadcasting Company as a News Analyst in its Program Analysis Department. Even though John thought it was strange to get paid to watch TV, he nevertheless handled those duties with consummate skill and professionalism. He was promoted into management and oversaw the department's analysts.



After 14 years at NBC he was looking ahead and seeking more intellectual challenges. John started Fordham Law School at night and then left NBC in 1993 to work for the NY Corporation Council. He earned his JD degree in 1994 from Fordham and along the way found his true calling.



This excerpt from the essay John submitted to his Regis 50th Reunion says it all:



"I fully intended to stay in the communications industry with a law degree and a real job. Instead, one evening at a seminar on international human rights, I heard the meaning of 'justice' as if Pedro Arrupe were speaking. I was thrown from my 42-year-old self-absorbed horse (like St. Paul, except for the Abercrombie riding gear and Hermés saddle) and directed to something like service — first at the NYC Commission on Human Rights, and then for 17 years at the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights. There was finally a reason to get out of bed in the morning that involved other people." By the time John retired in 2015, he had fulfilled his more noble "purposeful" life, earning the respect and admiration of his legal colleagues and management executives for his intelligence, insightfulness and diligence in handling many complex and difficult cases.



But John wasn't just smart and savvy, he was affable, witty, urbane and fun to be around. Yes, he was diligent, tenacious and persistent but he was also a charming team player who could lighten tense moments with a well-chosen wise crack or pithy comment. John could have a devilish sense of humor and, while that was primarily shared with his friends, his coworkers often became good friends.



Within his large and extended family, John was invited to spend the holidays and significant events with loved ones. He was a devoted son to his parents, especially to his widowed mother. His single aunts also received special attention as they were growing older and required a bit more care. He was fond of his cousins and proud of the new generations. He beamed with pride when he recounted holiday celebrations with family and what they meant to him.



To his wide circle of friends, John was a loving friend: considerate, caring, understanding and loyal. He made each of his friends feel special, as if listening to us and sharing our concerns was his only priority.



So how do we try to capture the essence of John and his life so well-lived? John was elegance personified ­­in his impeccable sense of style, in how he dressed, carried himself through life, even in his general outlook. He was an accomplished pianist who was knowledgeable about all types of music, from classical symphonies and Broadway show tunes, to rarely performed operas, knowing historical references and even the best divas and performers who were in specific roles over the years. As a discriminating theater-goer, John did not feel obligated to stay at a play if it didn't live up to HIS expectations, even if some professional critic might have praised the production. His time was too valuable to waste. Seeing an interesting performance with a friend was satisfying but enjoying a fine meal and good conversation with a dear friend was even more pleasing. John was a real raconteur, a great storyteller who could regale us with colorful tidbits and humorous reminiscences from his past. And on occasion, he could have us in stitches by channeling Carol Channing or Ethel Merman singing something silly. That he lived this engaged life through forty years of sobriety was no small achievement.



John was relishing his retirement years. Having already traveled to several destinations in Europe, South America, and China, a few years ago he did a fabulous multi-week cruise of the South Pacific and last fall he finally visited India and the Taj Mahal. But he also loved being at home in New York. He took full advantage of living in this city. He frequented Broadway, Museums and the Met Opera, often dined at restaurants like Bouley and Milos or enjoyed his neighborhood favorite Le Zie. John also liked spending time on Fire Island in the summer with friends, and he was planning to return there this summer.



But besides being a connoisseur of all things fine, from cashmere sweaters to monogrammed shirt cuffs, from haute cuisine to high end travel adventures, John was a man who cultivated meaningful and long-lasting relationships with so many wonderful people throughout his life. He always remained in contact with many of his friends from Regis and was thrilled to reconnect with others when they celebrated their 50th Reunion in 2017. Over the years, John has established committed friendships with people he met in work situations, cultural interests, traveling adventures and through other friends. John may have been an only child but legions of friends join his many cousins and extended family of birth by claiming John Collins as "our family of choice" through experiencing his insightful understanding, patient caring, generosity of spirit and loving kindnesses.



John often quoted famous writer, critic, and satirist, Dorothy Parker and this was the first line of a favorite:



"Oh, life is a glorious cycle of song, …



John's life WAS a glorious cycle of song.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Regis High School in John's name.

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