A Celebration of John Guinan


Friends of the Guinan family gathered yesterday to celebrate the life of John Guinan at Our Lady of Loretto in Cold Spring, N.Y. and later on Garrison's Landing at a reception hosted by the Garrison Art Center. Bagpipers (from the Cold Spring Fire Co. Pipe & Drum Corps, I'm told) gave a wonderful farewell to him.

Several riders from Braking the Cycle came by train from New York to commemorate John, who has pedaled with them since the ride's inception. The organizers of Braking the Cycle, among them Eric Epstein, Blake Strasser and Steve Bratton, have graciously made John honorary Rider Number 1 this year.

This ride was enormously important to John. He rode every year to celebrate the life of his late brother-in-law Tommy. His wife Mary Jane often crewed; now his daughter Kelly leads a team of us from Guinan's who ride in his stead.

In lieu of flowers or other tributes to John, the family has asked that donations be made to Braking the Cycle and Team Guinan. (Any donations made to John Guinan, Rider #1 will also benefit Team Guinan.) This link will take you directly to Team Guinan's donation page, or type in:

www.gaycenter.kintera.org/btc/teamguinan08

Many of you are leaving wonderful messages and memories about John here at this spot on this blog. They are much appreciated by all who loved him.

Photos by Clemson Smith Muñiz

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