John Hendrickson’s family released this obituary on Tuesday. The husband of the late Marylou Whitney died on Monday, August 19. He was 59.
John F. Hendrickson, died on Monday, August 19, 2024, in Saratoga Springs, NY. due to cardiac arrest. He was 59. John’s sudden passing hit hard. He was well known for his sharp wit, relentless sense of humor, endless energy and generous spirit. A community celebration will be held in Saratoga Springs, NY on Friday, August 30 at the Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.
John was born on February 28, 1965, in Anchorage, Alaska to John (Jack) and Gwen Hendrickson. He grew up in Anchorage and spent many summer weekends on a family boat in Homer pulling crab pots, fishing for halibut and salmon and combing the beach for clams in China Poot Bay with his brother, Ed, and sister, Nancy.
Even from an early age he was a natural leader with a rare combination of drive, vision and an ability to relate to just about everyone. In 8th grade he ran a professional-level campaign to become class president, complete with buttons, flyers, book covers and an election committee. At West High School, he became editor of the school paper, state tennis champ, prom king, class president and commencement speaker.
John graduated from CU Boulder before moving back to Alaska, where he taught tennis and became a part-time model. In 1989 his charm and good looks landed him on an episode of Oprah called “Alaskan Men” where he famously said, “I’m John Hendrickson, and I’m looking for a woman who isn’t
afraid to succeed.” It was as if John could foresee the future!
A manager at Nick Bollettieri tennis academy saw the show and offered him a job. John was a particularly good coach sharing the same court with Andre Agassi, Monica Seles, and Jim Courier and, as always, forged many deep friendships with families of the students. John ultimately became close friends with Nick and was the Godfather of his two youngest children.
After a few years, John returned to Alaska to become a legislative aide and eventually special assistant to Governor Hickel. He became the governor’s closest confident, working on major policy issues such as using settlement funds to buy land and support science in Prince William Sound and Kachemak Bay.
It was through Governor Hickel he met the love of his life, Marylou Whitney, the Queen of Saratoga. She was a long-time friend of Hickel and was visiting Alaska. Hickel knew they would hit it off and the chemistry was instant.
Marylou began writing John love letters every day, even during her South Pole expedition with Norman Vaughn. After a two-year courtship, they announced their intent to marry, but hadn’t set a date. John said, “It’s not that there’s any problem. ‘I’m a formal guy who wants to get down on one knee and buy that five-carat diamond I can’t afford.” Always going big, John proposed while attending a dinner party at Buckingham Palace. Gov. Hickel married them shortly thereafter on an Alaska mountain top. They were soul mates, with Marylou saying, “we are just two people in love, trying to grab our share of happiness in the world.”
For 22 years, John and Marylou were devoted to each other and shared an extraordinary life traveling, creating their hilarious Christmas cards, enjoying the company of good friends, and running Whitney Industries. John helped restore Whitney Stables to its former racing glory, highlighted by Birdstone’s triumph in the 2004 Belmont Stakes, nosing out Smarty Jones and his bid for the triple crown. All the while, they dedicated their time to making the lives of others better. The two of them were unstoppable and often accomplished what others thought impossible. John did many things to honor Marylou, including commissioning a book about Marylou’s late husband Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney and creating the Marylou Whitney rose. He was devastated after Marylou’s passing, but he continued to honor her every day.
John had a ritual of walking 12-14 miles a day with his beloved dog Lu Lu, wearing one of his funny, self-created t-shirts, and often stopping at a friend’s house for a chat after his walk. He had a way of connecting with people in all walks of life and spread love and laughter everywhere he went. He poured himself into the lives of his family and friends, often reaching out daily with a text, a funny meme, or a phone call. John loved people, and they loved him right back.
John’s greatest passion was his philanthropy. Especially dear to him were causes that advanced healthcare, protected animals, and lifting those in underserved communities. He was a force of nature, and his generosity was beyond measure – from building a healthcare clinic to helping fund a new hospital wing to leaving tips so large, service workers often chased after him thinking he had made a huge mistake. When asked about it, John would say, “It won’t change my life, but it may change theirs.”
In 2017, John became the President of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. Under his vision and leadership, the museum modernized, expanded and flourished. It is now one of the premier Hall of Fame museums in the country. Most recently, he was instrumental in the creation of a program that provides veterinary care to pit bulls through the Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League.
Closest to his heart were the backstretch workers in Saratoga Springs – those working at the horseracing track – the muckers, groomers, walkers, and feeders. For them, he and Marylou founded the backstretch appreciation program. And last year, John funded and built a premier on-site medical clinic with free healthcare. Every night during the Saratoga racing season, he hosted a dinner for hundreds of backstretch workers to shine a light on their critical efforts; and every Sunday and Wednesday he joined to celebrate with them.
He was as comfortable there, mingling with these hard-working people, as he was in a boardroom or Buckingham Palace. John often quoted James Keller in saying, “a candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.”
There was no man with a bigger heart or of greater character. He was bigger than life. And, as one of his good friends would often say, he made other people’s lives bigger too. The world has truly lost one of the greatest ambassadors of kindness. He will be missed.
John is survived by his mother Gwen, brother Ed, sister-in-law Michele, niece Christina (Sam), nephew John, beloved dog Lu Lu and many aunts and uncles. He was preceded in death by his Father John and sister Nancy. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Backstretch Employees Service Team (BEST) in Saratoga, New York, the Fix-a-bull program in Palm Beach Florida, NY Race Track Chaplaincy, the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, or to an organization that means something to you. No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.
