After a year of declining health, Jon Scott Groves of Provincetown died on Jan. 15, 2022 with his family at his side. The cause was lymphoma. He was 77.
The son of the late John and Jean Groves of Fox Chapel, Pa., Jon was born on Sept. 22, 1944 in Pittsburgh, where he spent his early years. He graduated from Fox Chapel High School in 1962. As a child, he longed to play football but a heart murmur limited him to swimming, tennis, and fishing. His father took the kids to college football and occasional Pittsburgh Steelers games. Jon remained a lifelong Steelers fan.
“He had a good heart,” said his sister, Lynne. “On one family fishing trip in Maine, he was supposed to put the fish we caught in a basket, but he quietly returned the fish to the water instead. He loved animals, and animals loved him back — and not only dogs but horses and goats!”
Jon had a mischievous streak. He revealed to his sister recently that, as a teenager, he once took his mother’s car and drove west, making it as far as Colorado, where the car broke down. To raise the bus fare home, he sold the car’s tires. The fate of the car and Jon’s punishment when he returned home are not known.
Jon trained as a draftsman for the William Green Co. in Pittsburgh. Somewhat adrift after a brief marriage, he ran an off-road motorcycle race course in Pennsylvania before moving to North Truro to work as a fisherman.
He moved to Provincetown in 1976, fishing and processing fish on MacMillan Pier. In the late 1990s he joined Winard Construction and Development. Owner Hal Winard was both his boss and his friend.
Jon began each day by parking on the pier to read the paper, do the crossword, and enjoy the view. He often met Hal there to drink coffee and chat. Jon specialized in interior painting, Hal said, and his work was always good. Jon worked for Winard for the rest of his life.
He loved the quieter months here, and he was devoted to family and friends. He remembered everyone’s birthdays and anniversaries, even those of childhood friends in Pittsburgh. Loved ones remember him as a kind and sweet soul, always thinking of others.
Jon is survived by his sister, Lynne Tudor of North Truro; four nieces, Nikki Tudor and Margaux Tudor of Harwich, Jacqueline Tudor Krendel and husband David of Framingham, and Katie Groves Riley and husband Paul of Bluffton, S.C.; grand-nieces and -nephews Jeremy and Ashley Krendel, Cree and Roux Bisson Donahue, and Sullivan and Maura Riley; sister-in-law Merry Groves of Bluffton, S.C.; and cousins Curt White of Pittsburgh, Candace Mindigo and Michael Patrick of Los Altos and Fairfax, Calif., and Geoffrey, Ehren, and Noah Shenk of Wellfleet and Truro.
Jon was predeceased by his brother and best friend, Michael Groves.
A celebration of Jon’s life will be held on Sunday, Feb. 20 at 2 p.m. at the Governor Bradford, 312 Commercial St., in Provincetown.
Jon asked that his ashes be scattered on the waters off Parris Island, S.C., as were his brother’s. Heinekens will be served in his honor.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Jon’s honor to the Homeless Prevention Council, P.O. Box 828, Orleans 02653.
For online condolences visit nickersonfunerals.com.
