John Clarence Fountain age 91-passed away on November 15, 2023 from a heart attack that occurred while he was straining to open a bottle of Diet Coke. He was born March 23, 1932 to J. Clarence and Courtney S. Fountain in Port Huron (Michigan). John graduated from Port Huron High School in 1949 and Adrian College in 1957. He also did graduate work in political science at Western Michigan University. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, the former Marjorie (Marge) Salmon, who he wed in 1958 in Hillsdale, Michigan. He is also survived by four daughters: Kim Michelle Goffee (Steven), Lynne Rene Gronvall (Paul), Julanne Cheryl Williams (Jeffrey) and Jacqueline Claire Luurtsema (Steven). Ten grandchildren: Jessica Harless, Katie Talmadge, James Williams, Ashley Reid, Mackenzie Meyers, Shannon Nelson, Nicolette Williams, Patrick Gronvall, Gregory Goffee and Joshua Luurtsema and nine great grandchildren: Kohan, Adeline and Eloise Talmadge, Violet and Oliver Harless, Georgia and Iris Meyer and Emory Nelson. John served in the United States Navy as an Electronic Technician Third Class, spending most of his tour of duty in Tripoli as part of NavComUnit4. In his professional life he had three distinct careers, first as a broadcaster, second as an university administrator and lastly as a business owner.

Growing up he had a vision of being a sports broadcaster and he reached the pinnacle in 1955 broadcasting (on ten second delay) the seven game world series between the Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Yankees for Armed Services Radio and later broadcasting University of Michigan football and basketball. As he became a university administrator he continued broadcasting as an avocation for 44 years at Eastern Michigan University. It was at that university he served as Sports Information Director, Acting Athletic Director, Director of Information Services and Vice President for University Relations. He retired with the title Emeritus Vice President and Secretary to the Board of Regents at Eastern Michigan University. During his twenty year association with Eastern Michigan University he will be remembered as the architect of the Eastern Energy program in 1984 that saved the university from being expelled from the Mid-American Conference. Among John's honors are, admission to the Eastern Michigan Sports Hall of Fame, the Mid American Conference Media Hall of Fame, and the Port Huron Sports Hall of Fame. He also received the John W. Porter Distinguished Service Award from EMU, the Lifetime Contribution Award from the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association and the Alumni Humanitarian Award from Adrian College. John was honored with the Ypsilanti area Distinguished Service award from the Ypsilanti area Chamber of Commerce. The award though of which he was the proudest was an award from the EMU Student Body (on a resolution from the Student Senate) presented at halftime of a football game for his promotional efforts in helping the 1971 Hurons be named the number one team in the nation. John served as Chairman of the Ypsilanti Area Chamber of Commerce, the Ypsilanti Area Visitors and Convention Bureau, the Washtenaw Education Work Consortium and the Detroit Sports Broadcaster Association.

Visitation for John C. Fountain will be held Tuesday, November 21, 2023 from 9:00 am - 11:00 am at the First United Methodist Church, 209 Washtenaw Ave, Ypsilanti. Service to follow at 11:00 am. A Military graveside service will be held for immediate family in Port Huron. To view a Livestream of the service, click here .

In lieu of flowers, those wishing to make memorial contributions may do so to either the:
J. Clarence and Courtney S. Fountain endowed sportscasters scholarship fund at EMU
(Add John C. Fountain in the comments section" to ensure your donation goes to John's scholarship fund.)
Or
First United Methodist Church of Ypsilanti