John Irving Blumenthal died Nov. 21, 2025, in his hometown of Rye. He was 96.
John was born Aug. 14, 1929, in Austin, Minn. to Irving Rolfe Blumenthal and Lina Mikolas Blumenthal. He moved to Rye in 1932 and attended Milton School and Rye High School. He graduated from Colgate University in 1951. He lived in Rye for more than 80 years.
John served in the Korean War conflict as a Sergeant in the U.S. Army, where he was awarded The Bronze Star for Meritorious Service.
John began a career in advertising at Young & Rubicam in 1952 and advanced to the role of creative director at several leading advertising agencies. He was the originator of some of America’s most famous advertising campaigns. His awards include dozens of Clios, art director awards, and Grand Prix winners at both the Cannes and Venice Film Festivals. Later, John was partner in the agencies Hawkins, McCain & Blumenthal and The Product Performance Group.
John served as volunteer chairman of the advisory board for the Westchester Lighthouse and on the boards of the Rye Free Reading Room, Friends of Rye Town Park, and the Rye United Way. He was a long-time patient support volunteer for the emergency rooms at White Plains and United Hospitals.
John is predeceased by his wife of 59 years, Mary Newkirk Blumenthal, who died in 2013. He is survived by three children: son, Tim, and his wife, Lise, of Cornwall, Vt.; son, Thomas, and his wife, Amy, of Riverside, Conn.; and son, Andy, of Frisco, Colo. His sister, Jane Gilman, lives in Beverly Hills, Calif. John also leaves two grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
John will continue to be remembered and revered for his many exceptional talents, especially his love for writing and words, the inspirational way he treated everyone with kindness and respect, and his multi-faceted athleticism.
A master of spin in racket sports, John was equally adept at putting words together. He ranks among the top all-time winners of the weekly New York Magazine competition, where his string of free subscriptions will stretch into the 22nd century.
Here’s a quick snapshot of his action-packed, lifetime of sports in Rye:
- Basketball point guard and T-formation quarterback/placekicker for Rye High School
- Golfer and racquet sports competitor at The Apawamis Club and Manursing Island Club
- Sailor on the Sound
- Single scull rower at the Rye Municipal Boat Basin
- Softball shortstop at Rye Recreation Center
- Swimmer and diver at the Oakland Beach pool
A family celebration of John’s life is planned for mid-2026. Memorial donations may be made to The Lighthouse Guild, a New York City-based non-profit that assists people with vision loss in Westchester County (lighthouseguild.org).
