John L. Pritt Jr
May 11, 1966 – February 25, 2026 (Age 59)
Our beloved husband, father, brother, and friend John L. Pritt, Jr passed away February 25, 2026. He was a larger-than-life personality, with superhuman optimism and a love of life that always revolved around his family and friends—and occasionally, his work.
John was born in Elyria, Ohio, on May 11, 1966, and grew up there with his brother and sister, with a brief detour to San Francisco. His biggest life-altering moment came by a bonfire on a fall Friday night in 1984 where he met the love of his life, Lora. They married four years later and were blessed with two beautiful children, Lauren and Jonathan.
John loved “experiences,” whether going to sporting events (catching ManU at Old Trafford or watching his Buckeyes in the 'Shoe) and concerts (his Counting Crows fan club membership got him preferred seating; his moxie got him on stage with Elton John), coaching youth soccer, adopting a fondness for golf, or traveling. He recently fulfilled a lifelong dream with Lora when they spent two weeks in Europe and one week on the West Coast. John was also tireless in loving and supporting his family, taking weekly trips to Elyria to spend time with the Mackerts, his father, and his sister.
John was an irrefutable self-made man. He started as a part-time clerk at Glidden Paint and through intelligence, determination, and charisma was soon managing a store where he doubled sales in less than two years. He parlayed this experience to enter the commercial painting business, where he developed loyal customers in the Columbus area for more than 30 years. With enormous courage and self-confidence, he started Pritt’s Painting Company three years ago, creating a family-run team for the greatest group of commercial painting professionals in the region to ply their trade.
John’s legacy lives on through his beloved wife Lora (Mackert), their children Lauren and Jonathan, his granddaughter Emilia “Sweet Pea” Parry, his sister Jodie Pritt (Andrea Mairella), and his mother Cynthia Pritt. He is also survived by his mother-in-law Lois Mackert, brother-in-law Joe (Nohemy) Mackert, sister-in-law Lisa (Joe) Stayer, and brothers-in-law Tim Mackert and Steve Mackert. His extended family of uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, and more friends than can be counted share in this loss and in maintaining his memory.
He is preceded in death by many family members, including his brother Donnie, his father John, his father-in-law Jim Mackert, and his brother-in-law Jimmy Mackert.
In John’s memory, donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or the Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation in Carey, Ohio. A celebration of life is scheduled for Sunday, March 8, from 2 to 5 p.m. at Hill Funeral Home in Westerville.