First and foremost, John was a lifelong New York Yankees fan. He grew up in Chicago and cherished the memories of his neighborhood and friends he grew up with, including his time as an Andy Frain usher. John graduated from Saint Philip High School, Class of 1954, and earned a bachelor of science degree from Loyola University.

In 1959, John married his wife, Diane, and in 1962, they settled in Cary, Ill. where they raised their daughters and have resided for over 62 years. John’s professional career began at UARCO in credit and collections, where he worked for 25 years. He later continued his career at ACCO in Wheeling and Wallace in Lisle. John held his colleagues in high regard and considered many of them friends.

John joined the Cary Jaycees to become involved in community events. This sparked his interest in local politics. He served as a Village of Cary trustee and was later appointed interim Mayor in 1976. Following his tenure as Mayor, John served as a Cary Police Commissioner for 30 years. An avid golfer, John enjoyed regular outings with his brothers, Cliff and Jim, as well as close friends Bill and Frank. He was also a frequent visitor to Arlington Park and a skilled handicapper, always joking before a visit that he was "going to visit his money." He enjoyed these visits even more when accompanied by his daughters and grandchildren.

John is survived by his beloved wife, Diane; daughters Jacqueline (Gary) Lynn, Laura (Oscar) Godinez, and Michelle Mallon-Jenkins; grandchildren Zach Clemmons, Zoe Clemmons, Mark (Emily) Lynn, Katie Lynn, Elliot Godinez, Jake Godinez, Kelsey Jenkins, and Kelly Jenkins; and great-granddaughter Kaia Lynn. He is also survived by his brother, Cliff Mallon. John was preceded in death by his brother James (Sandra) Mallon and daughter Elizabeth Clemmons.

A Funeral Mass will be held on March 15, 2025, at 10:30 AM at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church 401 N. 1st Street, Cary, IL. In lieu of flowers, donations in John’s name may be made to the Cary Police Explorers Program or the Cary Food Pantry.