Visitation:
Service: A private Memorial
Service will be held this summer. TRAVERS – John C., Jr.
Of Hamburg, New
York, December 23,
2020. Beloved husband
of 63 years Mary Lou
(Coleman) Travers;
loving father of Mary
(John) Murphy, John
Travers III, Kathleen (Jeff) McCrone,
Susan (Michael) Worth, Thomas Travers,
David (Donna) Travers and Jennifer (Chris)
Marrano; dear grandfather of thirteen
grandchildren and great-grandchildren;
brother of the late David Travers; also
survived by many nieces and nephews.
No prior visitation. A private Memorial
will be held this summer at Hanford
Bay. In lieu of flowers, memorials may
be made to Buffalo Niagara YMCA or
Crimestoppers WNY. Arrangements by
DIETRICH FUNERAL HOME, INC.
Online condolences may be shared at
www.TheDietrichFuneralHome.com John C. Travers Jr., 89, insurance executive, marked 6 decades serving YMCA Buffalo Niagara

John C. Travers Jr., a longtime insurance executive who served the YMCA for six decades and was instrumental in the opening of the Southtowns branch, died Wednesday (Dec. 23, 2020) in his Hamburg Home. He was 89.

Mr. Travers was the recipient of the YMCA’S highest honor, the Gold Key Award in1985, and in 2016 he was honored with the organization’s Lifetime
Service Award. At the time, the YMCA described Mr. Travers as “always the life of any board meeting or YMCA event, known to bring the laughter, and most importantly, a mission-driven attitude making the Y a better place for all.”

Mr. Travers established his 60-year insurance career as a young, self-employed broker, joining Buffalo Fire Office in the early 60’s. He eventually became a partner and when the company was sold joined Walsh Duffield, retiring in 2017.

His love of one liners and fierce loyalty to clients enabled Travers to serve generations of families who describe him as “hilarious, caring, full of stories and ability to make everyone feel like family.”

His sense of humor, and love of running, turned the annual YMCA Turkey Trot into a family affair. For 40 years Mr. Travers spent Thanksgiving morning navigating the 5 mile course with his 7 children, an army of relatives and friends, and eventually his grandchildren. Stories following the post-trot celebration at the Convention Center are legendary.

Mr. Travers’ love of jokes and jazz, family and fun, love and laughter are his legacy along with his lifelong passion to serve the community.

In addition to the YMCA, Mr. Travers was active in a number of other organizations including CrimeStoppers of WNY, serving on the board of directors for many years. His commitment to Catholic Charities annual fundraising appeal spanned decades in his capacity as a board member.

Mr. Travers spent summers at his beloved Hanford Bay beach house on Lake Erie, where he was a leader of the Hanford Bay Association dating back to the 1960’s.

Born in Buffalo, Mr. Travers was a graduate of St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute and St. Bonaventure University. He served 4 years in the military based in Germany.

In addition to running, Mr. Travers was an avid tennis player and helped establish “The Bubble” tennis club in East Aurora, now the Quaker Aurora Tennis Club. He loved water skiing at the family summer home where the nightly sunset and afterglow was the centerpiece of huge family gatherings.

The father of seven, grandfather of 12, and great-grandfather of one, Mr. Travers was affectionately known as “Pops.” He loved a great party and orchestrated hundreds, including the annual Hanford Bay Kentucky Derby soiree. Mr. Travers was a Buffalo Bills fan, hosting epic super bowl and football parties at their Orchard Park and summer homes with his wife Mary Lou.

In addition to his wife, survivors include four daughters, Mary Murphy (John), Kathleen McCrone (Jeff), Susan Worth (Michael) and Jennifer Marrano (Chris); three sons, John, Tom and David (Donna).

A celebration of Mr. Travers life will take place next summer at Hanford Bay. Donations in his memory may be made to YMCA Buffalo Niagara or Crimestoppers of WNY.