John McCusker, owner of Club Montage and ReBar, died suddenly of a cardiac arrest on Sunday, March 13, while visiting Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort with his partner, David Trick, in Mammoth Lakes. He was 31.

Mammoth Lakes Police Department Officer Doug Hornbeck said he arrived to the scene and performed CPR. Paramedics then transported McCusker to Mammoth Hospital where he was pronounced dead early Sunday morning.

The Mono County Coroner’s Office said they are awaiting a toxicology report before determining the official cause of death. An investigation by the chief coroner is still pending.

A native of Temecula, McCusker moved to San Diego to attend the University of San Diego. After obtaining his degree in business administration/leadership in 1996, he opened West Coast Production Company (now Club Montage) and in 2002 he purchased ReBar (formerly Wolfs).

Since 2002, McCusker served on the board of directors and was just reelected to his second term for the Greater San Diego Business Association (GSDBA). He was co-chair of the program committee, responsible for planning GSDBA mixers for the last two years.

“He was a great leader for GSDBA, always helping us move forward as an organization dedicated to improving benefits and resources for LGBT and LGBT-friendly small businesses in San Diego,” said GSDBA executive director Joyce Marieb.

“What he brought to it mostly was his sweet spirit. He was always enthusiastic, very positive,” said Marieb. “He always wanted to leave everything behind that was negative and just go ahead and see what we could do now.”

McCusker also served as a board member from 2000 to 2004 for the San Diego Human Dignity Foundation, which was established in 1996 with a mission to improve the quality of life within San Diego’s GLBT community. A past board vice president, McCusker was the chief auctioneer for their 2004 gala “Springtime in the Park: The Musical.”

Past San Diego Human Dignity Foundation president and friend Benjamin Dillingham recalled McCusker’s leadership.

“I thought he was a wonderful guy. I think most of us in my generation considered him one of the up and coming leaders of the community and just thought the world of him,” said Dillingham.

The McCusker family and members of San Diego’s GLBT community have established the John R. McCusker Education Fund at the San Diego Human Dignity Foundation in memory of him. Potential areas of funding include GLBT organizations at colleges, universities and high schools, substance abuse prevention education, health issues and other GLBT educational needs.

“The foundation is honored to support John’s family and friends in creating a fund in his memory that promotes the issues that were important to him,” said David Pierce, the foundation’s executive director. “John’s generosity to our community was an inspiration to us all.”

Richard Sager, a good friend of McCusker and one of the original founders of the San Diego Human Dignity Foundation, was also involved in establishing the fund.

McCusker was a longtime supporter of The Center and gave them a leadership gift that helped them move into their current location.

“All of us at The Center are deeply saddened by John’s passing,” said Delores Jacobs, chief executive officer of The Center. “He will be remembered for, among many things, his incredible support and commitment to The Center and to so many other important causes in San Diego’s LGBT community. John’s dedication to helping in whatever ways he was able was an inspiration to many and will not be forgotten.”

McCusker also contributed to Ordinary Miracles and helped found San Diego’s GLBT Vote 2000, a political awareness and get-out-the-vote campaign aimed at youth.

“When I think of John McCusker, I think of a friend who energized me, our community, and frankly anyone he came in contact with,” said Michael Mack, good friend, ex-partner and previous co-owner of Club Montage. “His high energy and loving spirit will not be forgotten. A friend to our community, John’s constant support and genuine concern for others has and will continue to make a unique and unmistakable impact on all of us.”

McCusker is survived by his partner, David Trick, of San Diego; parents John and Christine McCusker of Temecula; sister and brother-in-law Tina and Firas Naber, and sister and brother-in-law Angela and Carig Pena of Temecula; four nephews and three nieces, all of Temecula; and an extended family of aunts, uncles and cousins.

A viewing will be held on Thursday, March 17, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Evans-Brown Mortuary at 27010 Encanto Dr. in Sun City.

Since the Immaculata Catholic Church will no longer accomodate our community, services for Friday are pending. For more information see vanaveryprep.com or clubmontage.com

Burial services will be held on Friday, March 18, at 3:00 p.m. at the Temecula Public Cemetery at 41911 C St. in Temecula.

To make an online donation to the John R. McCusker Education Fund, visit www.gaylesbiantimes.com for a link to the website. For more information, call the San Diego Human Dignity Foundation at (619) 291-3383.

UPDATE 3/17/2005: Memorial Service will be held on Friday, March 18, 2005, 11 AM at St. Paul's Cathedral, 2728 Sixth Avenue, San Diego, CA (located between Olive & Nutmeg in Banker's Hill).