On the table near his bed, John Gibbons has a pile of books: Charles Spurgeon on finding delight in God’s presence, C.S. Lewis on miracles, John Piper on desiring God.His well-thumbed Bible. The books — and his family — were by his side until Dec. 28, 2021, when he was called home, the ending of a life marked by studying of the Scriptures and building of community. John Gibbons died in Silver Spring, Maryland, the culmination of a long battle with cancer. Throughout his life, John was devoted to forging connections with everyone he met. On the serious side, this meant bringing together those in need with those who could help, sharing the wisdom he learned through the trials and tribulations of life and delivering a kind word or a stark reality check when either was called for. Less seriously — and often to his family’s consternation — it meant striking up conversation with every waiter, seat mate or passerby he encountered. John was known for his quick wit and gentle sense of humor, finding joy in quiet moments and bringing laughter to every situation. Born in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, in 1943 to Richard and Anne Gibbons, John grew up playing stickball on the streets with his older brother, Richard, and getting his knuckled rapped by Franciscan teachers. After graduating from St. Leonard’s Academy high school in 1961, he worked for a few years as a runner on Wall Street and then began working at the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. While working at MetLife, he earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Long Island University and joined the New York Army National Guard, in which he served for five years. More importantly, he met Loretta Engle there. The two courted for two years — John getting up early to save Loretta a seat on the subway, and the two slipping notes encoded in Gregg shorthand to each other at work. The couple moved to New Jersey after marrying in 1968, and then Pennsylvania, where they raised a family — sons Brian and Timothy and daughter Susan — first in Mountain Top and then in Wilkes-Barre. For much of his life, John was in sales, working in real estate, insurance and technology, including several years as an executive at Pennsylvania’s largest privately owned fiber optic network company. In 2003 — after decades of volunteer work that ranged from teaching Sunday school to serving on boards at several churches — he combined his passion with his professional skills, taking on the role of executive pastor at Back Mountain Harvest Assembly. In addition to preaching on Sundays, he helped with a variety of community events —including the annual live nativity performance that attracts thousands of viewers — and oversaw the expansion of the church property with the purchase of the Valley Tennis and Swim Club. While John excelled at big picture thinking, what drove him was the small moments of grace he could bring into people’s lives. He spent countless hours counseling and ministering, helping members of a local addiction support group, working with the incarcerated and establishing the BMHA Food Pantry. His was a life devoted to touching the lives of others; the impact he had on others during his time here on earth is his true legacy. John is survived by his wife, Loretta Gibbons, and his children: sons Brian Gibbons of Orlando, Florida, and Timothy Gibbons and his wife, Michaela, of Jacksonville, Florida, and daughter Susan Parrett and her husband, Matthew, of Bethesda, Maryland, as well as granddaughter Hannah Parrett and grandsons Finnley Gibbons and Zachary Parrett. He was preceded in death by his granddaughter Faith; his brother, Richard; and his parents. In lieu of flowers, gifts in memory of John may be made to support prostate cancer treatment research at the Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at hopkinscancer.org. The compassion and ingenuity of the staff at the center were a blessing to John and his family during his fight with the illness.The family also wishes to thank the staff at Montgomery Hospice, who provided care and support in John’s final months. Interment is being handled by Going Home Cremation and Funeral Care of Rockville, Maryland. Details regarding a celebration of John’s life, which will be held later in the year, are still being determined.