John L. Ayling

John Lindsay Ayling

(1937-2025)

A husband, a father, a U.S. Marine, an NYPD officer. After three years he’ll meet his beloved wife, Carol, in the afterlife.

Lindsay left behind four children - Scott, Maura, Sarah and Sean. His 14 grandchildren will carry on his legacy. To Emily, Joseph, Madeline, Grace, John, Matthew, Aidan, Sam, Lily, James, Faith, Liam, Evelyn and Noah: Poppy loved you all and was very proud of the brood he left behind.

An avid reader who could recall a passage from any author, from Steinbeck to Solzhenitsyn; has read books from Nancy Drew to Mark Twain. He knew and truly understood film (movies) in an uncanny way. If there was a movie made from 1935 through the 1970s, he’d know the actors, actresses and director without a second thought.

He’d cut down an oak tree by hand even though he could use a chainsaw.

A man who once told gawking neighborhood kids, when asked why he was cutting the grass with an old-fashioned push-mower, when he could have used a gas mower - “A modern mower takes a tank of gasoline to cut this grass. This mower runs on a bowl of Cheerios.”

It was difficult for him to advertise it but he was the most devoted, dedicated, knowledgeable and interesting man we’ve ever known.

Rest in peace Poppy.