Obituary of John B. Berringer

March 5, 2025

John B. Berringer, 71, passed away just after midnight on Wednesday, March 5, 2025 after a five-year battle with thyroid cancer. An accomplished attorney and trial lawyer, John identified most proudly as a devoted husband, father, neighbor, volunteer, and friend. With a gregarious personality and fierce optimism, John confronted any challenge with exuberant enthusiasm, earning the nickname, Dr. Pangloss. Born in Erie, Pennsylvania in 1954, John spent his early years in Metuchen, New Jersey. John attended high school at the Haverford School, where he was recognized as a Scholar-Athlete and served as an offensive lineman on the school’s undefeated championship football team. In 1976, John graduated from Williams College, where he studied history and met many lifelong friends. After a year as a Watson Fellow working in a settlement house in London, John studied law at the University of Chicago and married his wife, Bonnie Recca, in 1980. Together, they raised two children, Benjamin Berringer, an attorney at Clifford Chance, and Kathryn Berringer, an assistant professor at the University of Kansas. Two weeks before his passing, John’s son and daughter-in-law, Benjamin and Valerie, welcomed John’s first grandchild, Sanford Albert Berringer. John began his career at the former Stroock law firm, before becoming a partner at Anderson Kill, and finishing his career at Reed Smith. Throughout his 45-year legal career, John excelled as a litigator and insurance recovery specialist. John was an active member of the Grace Church parish, serving on the vestry and as a volunteer for the GO Project, an organization, founded jointly by members of Grace Church and Grace Church School, which helps New York City public school students thrive through academic, social-emotional, and family support. As a volunteer teaching assistant for over a decade, John spent his Saturday mornings tutoring fifth and sixth graders. On May 13, 2025, John will be honored for his years of service with the posthumous Cree Harland GO Champion Award at the GO Project’s Spring Benefit. John was a quintessential New Yorker: he delighted in solving New York Times crossword puzzles, building community with his neighbors, and enjoying the rich traditions of theater, music, and nightlife in the city he loved. A consummate storyteller, John brought laughter, cheer, and fellowship to every gathering. He will be missed dearly by his wife, his children, and his wide circle of friends. His memorial service will be celebrated at Grace Church on Friday, March 14, 2025. In lieu of flowers, John wished for donations to be made to the GO Project or the Grace Church “Making All Things New” Capital Campaign.