John "Jack" R. Doherty

John “Jack” R. Doherty, age 89, of Ashtabula, passed away Friday, September 18, 2026, at Ashtabula Regional Medical Center following a brief illness. He was born February 21, 1937, in Cleveland, the son of Ethel and James Doherty. He married Candace Merry Witus in 1963.

Jack and Candy made a great team and ran a successful business. From city kids dreams of moving to a country farm and raising a “large” family a business was realized from the property they could afford. Jack only went to the 9th grade, yet he was smarter than most and while not sharing his plans regularly he always had good ones ready to go. Jack and Candy lived the American dream. Even after Candy’s untimely death in 2020 Jack kept living life to the fullest. He had many friends at the restaurants he went to almost every day. He started riding a 3 wheeled Spyder motorcycle at age 87 and put in 1000s of miles. Jack went to his farm daily. He liked to gather family at the farm on holidays, cook steaks and drink red wine with ice (because that is how he liked it). Sometime after a glass of iced red wine, he would shop at Sam’s Club and buy whatever the hell he wanted. He liked to bail hay and got it done every season. He was kind and very generous, he took care of those around him. Jack was unstoppable and was still the life of the party just days before his premature death. It’s always too soon for someone like Jack.

He is survived by his children Patrick Doherty, Kathy McMillan (Robert), Joe Doherty (Laurel Porcari), and John Doherty, Jr., (Tiffani). He loved spending time with his grandchildren Patrick Doherty, Jr., Nicholas Doherty and Taryn Wingfield, Ian McMillan, Riley Doherty, Flynn Doherty, and Bridget Doherty. In recent years, his great-grandchildren brought joy and sunshine to his days: Lilith, Raina, Vivian, Jensen, and Landon. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews who dearly loved spending time with and hearing stories from Uncle Jack.

Friends will be received Monday, September 28th from 4-7pm at the Behm Family Funeral Home, 175 S. Broadway in Geneva. A Funeral Service will take place on Tuesday, September 29th at 11am at the funeral home. Burial will take place at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery.

To honor Jack’s generous nature, please consider a donation to The Greater Cleveland Food Bank in his memory.
Https://support.greaterclevelandfoodbank.orgOnline obituary and condolences may be viewed at www.behmfuneral.com