The ACI is saddened to announce the passing of our former ACI President and Board member John McCulloch on 15-Nov-2017.
Looking back from an ACI perspective and my personal memories, John had been representing the Citroën fans and friends located in Canada and Northern Americas for many years. On 6-Dec-2003 when the very first larger get-together of worldwide representatives took place in the Conservatoire to define the ACI Statutes and the legal framework (see large photo), he expressed his vision about what’s relevant for him and the heritage of the brand which had left the continent decades ago. Since 2004 when the ACI was formally established as a non-profit association according to the French Law of 1901, he took an active role in the ACI.
On the ACI’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 11-Feb-2006 he was elected to join the ACI Board and later onwards took a role as Delegate Coach to especially connect to those markets which are less “visible” in the global community. He had been nominated as ACI President after the AGM 2011 and continued to head the organization until August 2014 when he retired from his Board engagements, yet still acting as representative for the ACI in Canada.
With John I also had some personal connection – we both shared the passion for the Citroën Ami6, since among other vehicles he owned one of the very rare US models to which I was happy to supply some spare parts.
And – his name is also tied to the ACI on a level visible to all: our ACI tagline “Bringing together the Citroën & DS clubs of the world” is basically his invention! I still remember the vivid moment when this tagline was created and we were brainstorming in the room at an ACI Board meeting almost a decade ago – John brought up the words we now live and breathe all together in our joint engagements.
We are with our minds and soul along with those who were privileged to know him.
Sincerely,
and on behalf of the ACI Board
///Stephan Joest
President ACI.
PS: More information about his engagements in Canada will be posted on the website of Citroenvie by George Dyke.
PPS: from an ACI perspective, you can leave your condolences and personal annotations in the below comment field – we offer this as a “condolence book” service.
PPPS: His wife Christine informed us that if anyone would like to make a donation, please support The Toronto Symphony Orchestra. John had a passion for going to their concerts and wanted to see their continued success. Donations can be made here: Toronto Symphony Orchestra – Donations
Sincere condoleances to family and friends from all in L’Aventure Peugeot Citroën DS…
He was certainly one of us and we shall always remember him.
With my kind regards,
Xavier C.
Kindly accept my condolences for John MCculloch passing away so soon without saying farewell..
It’s been exactly two years to date that he was amongst the panel …leading a meeting …..
The circumstances were not favourable , yet I had never figured out his role play into a private matter between the two members of a club …
Deep down inside , he may have been a good person,, but he had come across me as being prejudiced ,regardless , his presence will not be missed, I hold him in peace ..
As the first president of the (newly based and by the marque accepted) Amicale I will never forget and miss John. He was a good connector to the North American Citroen scene and always an enthusiast in Citroen historical things worldwide.
Wont forget his absolutely personal charming attitude to help where help is needed. We (my wife Gudrun an me) met him the last time at the 2012 ICCCR in Yorkshire on the Harrogate festival ground where he was a “simple” helping hand in the cash desk at the entrance at the end of our waiting queue. What a happy moment to see him back there, so sorry to all the waiting Citroennists behind us!
Respectfully and sad I say today: Thank you, John, for your engagement, and good by.
Ulrich Knaack
John was a symbole of class supported with his typical warm smile and genuine interest to talk to you and above all listen at what you had to say.
It is a great loss and will be miss by all.
Louise and Richard Boudrias
The Citroën community will miss John who was a deep connaisseur of the classic Citroën and a tireless animateur of Canadian clubs; he was also a charming person that my wife and myself used to meet regularly in Paris.
When I was the president of the ACI, I appreciated very much his support and implication during our working meetings, where we developed a complicity which became a true friendship along the years. I will never forget him and send all my condolences to his wife Chris and fami-ily.
Didier
It’s a sad moment, but let’s just focus on how lucky we are having the privilege to know him. John was such an iconic Citroën lover. The AGMs in Paris, where we get to meet him yearly were always vibrant from his enthusiasm. He was always there to have a chat with the delegates from all over the world. He will be missed.
Dear family and friends, please accept our deepest condolences on behalf of the Hungarian Citroën enthusiasts, and now also from New Zealand.
Thank you, John.
Sandor Schubert
John’s passing is indeed a sad loss for Citroën enthusiasts worldwide. In particular his contribution to the ACI is a formidable legacy.
During the time we were together on the Board John proved to be an ideal colleague and became a good friend, always prepared to listen to – and respect – the opinions of others no matter how much they differed from his own ideas.
The ACI will undoubtedly miss his measured approach to all matters, particularly in his desire to ensure decisions were correctly made and, of course, his larger-than-life, cheery presence will be missed by all who knew him.
John came onto the ACI board about the time that was promoted from President/Chairman to honorary member, so I did get to know him very well. I do remember that he always gave a fair opinion on any subject and persuaded me that I was wrong on more than one occasion. The fact that he spoke English and French was an asset to ACI. Please pass on my condolences to the family
I came to know John during my chairmanship of ICCCR2012, and immediately found him to be a tireless enthusiast for all things Citroen. In particular, his consistent support throughout all stages of our event eased my task considerably, and John was always a pleasure to talk to. He helped make light of any difficulties, and our discussions invariably ranged far beyond the ICCCR itself!
John’s contribution to the Citroen world both within the ACI and elsewhere stands as a lasting memorial to him. I feel privileged to have known John as a friend, and I will miss him greatly, as will so many others. I offer my condolences to Christine and the family.
Nigel
This is very sad news, John was one of these few people you never forget as he was a true gentle man. My condolences to John’s family.
I worked well with John before leaving Citroën and we made many things together when he was ACI President.
We always have nice meetings.
It was not so easy for him.
Really interesting to get his collector point of view because he was not coming from Europe.
I send my condolences to his family.
Kind regards.
On behalf of the McCulloch family,
I would like to thank everyone who posted such kind and informative messages about my brother John. Our entire family miss him terribly.
He was a very kind and considerate man who never forgot a birthday and who had many good friends acquired via his many interests & hobbies.
His passing left a large hole in all our lives.
He is not forgotten.
Jane McCulloch