John Leslie Hancock
John was a fourth generation Nevadan born in Reno, Nevada to John Leslie Hancock and Josephine Riemann. John grew up in Reno and attended Reno High School graduating in 1956. He continued his education at the University of Washington earning the prestigious Carnegie Mellon University Fellowship. He graduated from the University with a degree in Architecture and a Masters in Urban Planning and was a faithful “Huskies” football fan throughout his life.
While in Seattle, he fell in love and married his wife, Jane. John and Jane returned to his home, in Nevada, in 1973. They settled in Carson City and became the city planner. During his time as the city planner, he developed a master plan for the city including a linear park system with required open space for all new development. After his time with the city, he was a founding partner for RCI (Resource Concepts Incorporated) and then opened his own private firm, Design Concepts West, an architectural, urban planning, and landscape architectural firm. Throughout this career, John remained committed to architecture, urban planning, and his community. With his D.C. West team, he managed numerous local projects including schools, community buildings, libraries, parks, and open space beautification. His dedication to parks and open space was honored with the Elmer H. Anderson award for park excellence and the design on Rancho San Rafael earned a First in Park Design and Planning award.
As an active community member, he was president of the local Kiwanis club. During his tenure as president, Kiwanis received “Service Club of the Year”. He also received the Kiwanis international award for Distinguished Local President. He was a driving force behind the creation of the Senior Citizens’ Center and the Brewery Arts Council. He was also a dedicated member of the First Presbyterian Church where he served on the Session and facilitated adult Sunday School and many small study and fellowship groups.
Even though his life was full of dedication to his profession, community, and church; his family is what held his heart. John was a dedicated husband, father, and grandfather filling his families’ lives with joy and adventure. Throughout the years and years of camping, hiking, and water- skiing at Lake Almanor and Lake Shasta; the memories of love live on.
John Hancock lived his life loving God, his family, his friends his church, and his community, His was a life well-lived and he will be missed by all who knew and loved him.
Psalm 1:1-3
“How blessed is the man…whose delight is the law of the LORD, and in His law he mediates day an night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season, and it’s leaf does not wither, and in whatever he does, he prospers.
He is survived by his wife of 57 Years Jane, daughter JoAnna (Reid), daughter Signe, and granddaughters Hannah and Julia.