John Stephen McGee

John Stephen McGee passed away at the age of 92 on March 28, 2024 in Torrance, CA. He was born in Hermosa Beach, CA, son of Edward and Barbara Hiss McGee. He graduated from Redondo Union High School in 1949 before attending UCLA where he was a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity and Phi Delta Kappa education honorary society. In 1954, he graduated with a B.A. in Education and later received his Masters in Education Administration from USC.

Upon graduation, John began teaching at Seaside Elementary where he met and fell in love with a fellow teacher, Carmen Martin. They were married on February 3, 1957, and they remained together for 66 years until Carmen's passing in August 2023. In 1968, they welcomed their only son Martin.

Over the course of 33 years, John was a teacher, vice principal and principal throughout the Torrance Unified School District. After retirement in 1987, he continued working with the school district. Later he and Carmen worked together for a school picture business and also for a state testing service.

John was heavily involved with the Torrance-South Bay YMCA, serving on the Board of Managers and Y's Men's Club for several decades. For many years he chaired the annual Christmas Tree Lot fundraiser as well as actively promoted YMCA fundraising campaigns.

Beginning in 1988 he served on various Torrance City commissions, including Parks and Recreation, Traffic and Water.

For many years, John enjoyed woodworking and building furniture for the house. His other hobbies included playing golf, and he was an avid fan of televised matches. He also enjoyed camping and traveling; he and Carmen took numerous cruises and trips to various destinations.

He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, two sisters (Barbara Weber and Mary Ann Weber), and a brother who died in infancy. He is survived by his son, son-in-law, and several loving nieces and nephews. Visitation and services will be held at Coastal Funeral Center in Lomita on April 18th and 19th. Following services, a reception will be held at the Torrance-South Bay YMCA. For details please contact Coastal Funeral Center at (310) 326-6343.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Torrance-South Bay YMCA or a charity of your choice.