Dr. John R. French
Dr. John R. French
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our dad, Dr. John French, 93, who died peacefully at his home on Wednesday morning, July 22, 2026, with his family and caregivers by his side.
A funeral Mass will be held on Monday, July 27, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s Church, 25 Center Street, Waterloo. A private burial will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery, where he will be laid to rest beside his beloved wife, Julie. For guests who wish to greet the family, a Celebration of Life will be held at Woody’s Restaurant (at the Lux Hotel), 2468 NY-414, Waterloo, NY at 1:00 PM.
Dr. John was born in Waterloo on August 17, 1932, the son of the late Louis R. and Mary V. (DiPasquale) French. Dr. John graduated from Waterloo High School in 1950 and attended Niagara University from 1950–1954. He then continued his education at the University of Buffalo Dental School, graduating in 1958.
Dr. John began practicing dentistry in Waterloo immediately after graduation—first above O’Dell’s Drug Store (now Valley Pharmacy), and later at 128 E. Main Street, where he moved the practice in 1968, where he practiced for over 50 years. Throughout his long career, he helped countless people and boosted their confidence through his commitment to high-quality, compassionate dental care.
After marrying his wife, (Virginia) Julie, in 1958, they raised five children together in their home on Virginia Street. Dr. John loved being with his family and took great joy in watching his grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow and play in sports. He was an avid golfer and a longtime member of the Seneca Falls Country Club and also spent many years as a member of the Rotary Club and Knights of Columbus.
Dr. John is survived by his children, Lisa French of Buffalo, Dr. Gregory (Nancy) French and their children; Dr. Zachary and Andrew of Syracuse, Jack (Theresa) French and their children; Nicole, Emily, Joeyjohn, and Jacob of Tully, Marylou (David) Giordano and their children; Dominic and Marina of Georgia, David (Laurie) French, and their children; Nick and Adam of Syracuse, and five great-grandchildren.
Besides his parents, Dr. John was predeceased by his wife Julie in 2008, his brother Victor, and sisters; Linda (Red) VanGorder and Rosie (Mike) Marcheck.
The family wishes to extend a very special thank you to his dedicated caregivers; Lisa, Marty, Debbie, and Joni. We are deeply thankful for everything they did for us. We also gratefully acknowledge Dr. Phillip Wirth and Joe Mull for their care, support, and kindness shown to our family.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests memorial donations be made to Dr. John R. French. Distributions in memory of Dr. John will be done by the family to his most cherished areas or to a charity of one's choice.