July 11, 2002 A one-time director of the Central Orange Coast YMCA in Newport Beach died Saturday.
John Sumner Provost, 59, was described as a "true humanitarian" by his sister-in-law, Janet Sederquist. Mr. Provost died of heart disease. He served as director of the YMCA in Newport Beach for six years until
1999. He was born in Lima, Ohio, and played basketball and baseball at
Bowling Green State University. His athletic prowess impressed the New York Yankees, which offered him a catching position. When a shoulder injury sidelined him, he began working with the YMCA and stayed with the organization for 33 years in Ohio, New York and California.
"He was terrific with people," wife Carol said. "Everybody loved him.
He was a great personality and made everything fun. He liked to do for
people." After he retired from the YMCA in 1999, Mr. Provost became an avid golfer and launched a second career of sorts as a professional singer, crooning out golden oldies in a Mexican restaurant in his hometown of Indio.
"He did Frank Sinatra better than Frank Sinatra," Carol said. "He was
happy to be up there doing it."
He is also survived by mother Janet, son Steven, daughters Beth
Trowbridge and Suzann LoCoco, son Brian Meister, and grandchildren Andrew Provost and Jacqueline LoCoco.
Ray Shaner
Ray Shaner
Former Newport Beach YMCA director dies
July 11, 2002 A one-time director of the Central Orange Coast YMCA in Newport Beach died Saturday.
John Sumner Provost, 59, was described as a "true humanitarian" by his sister-in-law, Janet Sederquist. Mr. Provost died of heart disease. He served as director of the YMCA in Newport Beach for six years until
1999. He was born in Lima, Ohio, and played basketball and baseball at
Bowling Green State University. His athletic prowess impressed the New York Yankees, which offered him a catching position. When a shoulder injury sidelined him, he began working with the YMCA and stayed with the organization for 33 years in Ohio, New York and California.
"He was terrific with people," wife Carol said. "Everybody loved him.
He was a great personality and made everything fun. He liked to do for
people." After he retired from the YMCA in 1999, Mr. Provost became an avid golfer and launched a second career of sorts as a professional singer, crooning out golden oldies in a Mexican restaurant in his hometown of Indio.
"He did Frank Sinatra better than Frank Sinatra," Carol said. "He was
happy to be up there doing it."
He is also survived by mother Janet, son Steven, daughters Beth
Trowbridge and Suzann LoCoco, son Brian Meister, and grandchildren Andrew Provost and Jacqueline LoCoco.