This website has been created to house photos, videos, stories, and other documents relating to the work and life of John Paul Addis.
John was beamed up to his final destination on August 26th, 2019, while being held and comforted by his two loving children, John Kennedy Lowell Addis and Caroline Joyce Addis. The son of Lowell “Buck” Addis and Eleanor Schulte Addis, John was survived by his only sibling, Sister Gail Addis, IHM; his ex-wife, Linda Schwab Addis; their two children, John and Carrie; and five grandchildren: Xavier, Sophia, Sebastian, Julian, and Felix.
Before graduating from Eastern Michigan University, John attended St. Mary Catholic School in Mt. Clemens, Michigan, where he met many of the friends he held throughout his life. A lifelong singer and keyboardist, John co-founded several rock and country bands in both Michigan and in Texas, and continued performing well into retirement, most recently as one of the original members of The Bob Marshall Band. To hundreds of 7th graders from 1985-2011, however, John was best known as “Mr. Addis” – a dedicated, passionate teacher at St. Brendan’s in Detroit and St. Paul on the Lake in Grosse Pointe Farms, where he inspired students to love literature, grammar, Star Trek, and Jesus Christ Superstar. In recent years, he proudly edited and co-wrote fantasy novels with fellow teacher and friend Mike Novak, including 2015’s “The Warrior and the Wandering Wizard.” In accordance with his final wishes, Mr. Addis continued to be an educator to many even in death by donating his body to Wayne State University for medical education and research.
A Memorial Service was held at Harold W. Vick Funeral Home in Mt. Clemens, Michigan on Friday, August 30th, and a Memorial Mass was held at St. Paul on the Lake Catholic Church in Grosse Pointe Farms on Wednesday, September 4th at Noon.
This site will be updated periodically as additional items of interest are found and digitized. While you’re here, make sure to view and sign the guestbook!