His daughter, Kerry Reilly, sent a short message which she would want us to share with the whole YMCA family which read: "Yesterday afternoon my father passed away very suddenly. He had spent a lovely day with mum in Fife at their caravan. He decided to walk up a nearby hill. When he returned he sat down in the caravan and dropped dead. As you can imagine we are devastated but are comforted that dad went quickly and would have felt no pain."
John’s faith, friendship and fellowship was infectious and influential. His pastoral heart reached out to many who will testify to their lives being shaped, guided and richer because of his reaching out to so many. In many respects, my writing of this message to you on behalf of our movement in my capacity as chairman is only possible because of John’s incredible influence in my own. YMCA Scotland trustees, staff and volunteers nationally and locally will give testimony to similar stories and to us all the responsibility of sharing John’s legacy of youth empowerment in our YMCA is inspired. John’s vision for YMCA and youth empowerment continued unabated right up to this weekend when he was sharing some thoughts with me about the recruitment of our next National General Secretary. John was a member of the YMCA Scotland delegation to the World Council in Estes Park in July, and it was fantastic to see him renew old acquaintances with fellow retirees in the USA and witness the massive respect and esteem that he was held in by his peers there as he is in our own YMCA family here in Scotland.
John was a giant in YMCA Scotland and beyond our shores to Europe and further afield. With his passing, in some of the words I shared with Kerry, ‘earth certainly became poorer yesterday and heaven richer’. John had a big heart and his passing will leave a big hole in ours. For all who knew John, it was an unbelievable blessing, honour and privilege to have known him and to call him a friend.
As John has returned to be with our Lord and saviour, please join with the whole of our YMCA family and pray for John’s wife Patricia, Kerry, Bronach, Patrick, James and the rest of the family at this time of loss and give thanks for the life, witness, testimony and fruit from the Christian service of our friend, Rev John Knox, good and faithful servant.
Yours faithfully on behalf of all at YMCA Scotland, Mike G A Will Chairman
