Riverside, Calif., February, 2001-- After 40 years of energetic service to Seventh-day Adventist young people around the world, and a busy retirement of 17 years, John Hancock died on February 22, 2001, in Yucaipa, California. He was 83.

After a private burial, memorial services were held March 3, at 3:30 p.m. at the Calimesa Seventh-day Adventist Church with a homily by Norm Versteeg, his son-in-law.

Originally, Hancock planned to be a graphic artist. The untimely death of his father in 1935, however, changed the course of his life. Determined to make his life count for God, he switched from studying art at Chico State University to majoring in religion and education at Pacific Union College. After graduation in 1939 he began investing his musical talent in evangelistic meetings and summer camp ministries. He was ordained to gospel ministry in 1944 at La Sierra.

Hancock's first opportunity to serve youth full time came in 1946 when the Southeastern California Conference named him youth director. Here he helped develop the first Pathfinder Clubs for Adventist children and teens, similar to the Boy and Girl Scouts programs, but emphasizing service and spiritual values. In time, the clubs swelled to more than 1 million members. By the time he retired in 1984, Hancock was director of youth ministries for the international General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists in Washington, D.C. He had also been youth director in the Lake Union from 1951-1954, and the North Pacific Union, 1954-1964.

Hancock inspired young audiences everywhere with his musical skill on the accordion. Nicknamed the "million-mile accordion," the 55-pound instrument was always with him as he traveled to appointments around the world. In 1991 La Sierra University honored Hancock when they named a new yhouth center after him. The John Hancock Center for Youth Ministry is part of the university's School of Religion.

The director of the center, V. Bailey Gillespie, PhD, professor of religion, said that "during Hancock's tenure as youth director for the church, he was the moving force behind the church's acceleration of the student missionary program as well as the Pathfinder Club program."

After his retirement, Hancock and his first wife, Helen, moved to Yucaipa, California. His wife of 57 years died in 1990. Later he married Charlotte (Lollie) Soderblom, and they have resided in the area ever since. During his retirement, he assisted the Southeastern California Conference by promoting the writings and ministry of Ellen G. White.

Hancock is survived by his wife, Charlotte, of Yucaipa; a daughter, Dorothy Versteeg, of Arlington, California; two sons, Richard of Portland, Oregon, and Dwayne of Redlands, California; nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.