John Larkin.
The coffee roasting industry lost one of its biggest supporters this past weekend. John Larkin, founder of the roasting systems equipment and service company John Larkin and Company Inc., passed away after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease on Saturday, Sept. 1. A lifelong New Jersey resident, Larkin was 67 years old.
A skilled mechanic and millwright, Larkin professionally installed, rebuilt and serviced roasting equipment for decades, launching the eponymous company in 1976 and maintaining a stellar professional reputation among coffee roasting professionals. The company will carry on with the existing team that Larkin trained.
John Larkin and Company Inc. photo.
Here we share a few words from Roast magazine publisher, Connie Blumhardt:
John Larkin and his company have been involved in Roast magazine from the very beginning. When I started the magazine, I didn’t know John but he was very supportive, even making several editorial contributions over the years. Although we have worked together for many years, we only had the pleasure of meeting in person one time, which I’ve never forgotten. I met John and his wife Cheryl in Boston in 2013, and when John walked into the room, it just seemed a little brighter. He had a friendly smile and a distinguished look. When he approached the booth — John looked like he just stepped off a yacht, a sweater tied around his neck and shoes polished to a shine. Both John and his wife are the type of people that you just want to hang out with — fun, charming and full of life. I will cherish my meeting with John and remember him with a smile on my face.
A visitation will be held Thursday, Sept. 6, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Doyle Funeral Home, located at 106 Maple Ave., in Morristown, NJ. Services will be Friday, Sept. 7, at 10:30 a.m. at Saint Peter’s Episcopal Church, located at 70 Maple Ave. in Morristown. A lunch will follow at Rod’s Restaurant in Morristown.
Donations may be made to John Larkin’s Memory Wall at the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation.
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