John Robert Megery, a longtime Pacific Palisades resident, passed away on January 12 at Santa Monica Hospital of complications from intestinal surgery. He was 49.
John was born on May 25, 1963 to Monica and John Joseph Megery, both formerly of Pacific Palisades. He was raised in Anaheim and San Clemente, where he was a tennis player, an all-star baseball pitcher and avid motorcycle rider. After graduating from UC Santa Barbara, John attended Art Center College of Design in Pasadena and earned a master’s degree in advertising.
John met Laurie Burstein in 1990 and they were married in 1994. They moved to Pacific Palisades in 1996, where they raised their two daughters, Madeline (born in 1998) and Hannah (born in 2000).
A talented artist, John worked through the years as an art director/copywriter at various advertising agencies, including Lord Dentsu, Saatchi & Saatchi, Team One, Deutsch, Crispin Porter Bogusky and The Phelps Group. He won many awards for his work, including a Cleo Award, and brought an edge, a passion and a unique style to all he created.
John could fix anything, make anything, build anything, cook anything and when he decided to fully apply himself, he could accomplish whatever he set out to do. He was a natural athlete who took the time to enjoy his love of mountain biking, tennis, hiking and motorcycle riding. His love of motorcycles led him to pursue his childhood sport once again in his 40s, by successfully racing and competing in motocross.
To all who knew him, John will be remembered for being an incredible father to his two daughters, who were his pride and joy, and their unwavering love for him; his love for his Palisades life and family, and for his dogs Charlie and Toby; his multi-layered creative talents; his sense of humor and practical jokes; his sensitive, passionate and young-at-heart ways; and his determination to keep it real, to live an authentic life with few filters and his way. John stayed true to who he was in all he did.
John is survived by his daughters, Madeline and Hannah, who gave him his greatest joy in life and are his gift to the world; his former wife, Laurie; his mother Monica; his sisters Sheri (and her boyfriend Jeff) and Sally; his niece and nephews Katie, AJ and Jason; and Fred and Bea Burstein, Margie Burstein and Joannie, Andy, Jordan and Carly Besser.
A memorial service was held at the Annenberg Beach House.
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