As one of his former students eloquently stated, "I doubt he ever fully understood the breadth of his influence. He was a stone cast into still water, sending ripples far beyond the point at which they began. His lessons and kindness remain in the lives of the many people he taught and befriended."

John Bowdoin Colmore “Papa”, 79, of Columbia, Tennessee, passed away on September 23rd, 2026, in Franklin, Tennessee. John has left behind a legacy of humor, masterful storytelling, and generosity. He will forever be remembered for his deep devotion as a husband, father, stepfather, grandfather, brother, friend, educator, dog lover, huntsman and fisherman.

John was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on November 1st, 1946, to Virginia Guild Colmore and Rupert McPherson Colmore and was the youngest of three brothers. He attended Bright School, then went on to graduate from Baylor School in Chattanooga. He followed his family’s proud legacy by attending Sewanee: The University of the South, where he majored in History and distinguished himself as a Hall of Fame athlete. John set school records in shot put, high jump, and swimming. In 1969, he was named Senior Athlete of the Year.

Campus life also gave John enduring friendships, many of which remained important to him for decades. He and his comrades spent many of these lively summers working in Nantucket and Lake Tahoe.

John taught history at Battle Ground Academy from 1969 until 1977. To further quote a former student, “He was teacher and friend at once, both in the classroom and long afterward. Before our eyes, he made history, society, and human nature come alive.” John was inducted into the Battle Ground Academy Faculty Hall of Fame in 2007. While at BGA, he met the beautiful Linda Lea, the love of his life. The couple married on October 27, 1979, at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church on Lookout Mountain, Tennessee.

In 1989 John and Linda designed and built their dream home on a horse boarding farm in Thompson’s Station Tennessee— named Addenbrooke— where they would raise their family and live for twenty-seven years. His daughters reflect on the life built at Addenbrooke Farm as irreplaceable, deeply defining, and cherished. During many summers the Colmores ran a day camp that created lasting memories and experiences for countless campers and counselors. John had a distinct gift for building community, fostering relationships, mentoring, and making others feel welcome.

In addition, John also served as a former member of the University of the South’s Board of Trustees, as well as serving on the Board of Trustees at Cumberland Heights in Nashville. He also previously served on the Williamson County Planning Commission. Throughout the mid-1980s and into the 1990s John was an avid Steeplechase enthusiast and horse owner. He spent 17 years of his retirement from 2006 to 2023 enjoying his time as a Bailiff in the Williamson County Court House. John was incredibly selfless with his time and resources. He believed in generosity without ceremony and humility in philanthropic pursuits.

John was preceded in death by his parents, Virginia Guild Colmore and Rupert McPherson Colmore, and by his older brother, Rupert McPherson Colmore III. He is survived by his beloved wife, Linda Lea Colmore; his daughters, Martha Colmore Hooker and her husband, William Hooker, Margaret Colmore Flynn and her husband, Tatum Flynn, his stepdaughter, Lea Allison Rovers and her husband, Tycho Rovers, his brother Jo Colmore, and his cherished grandchildren, Keaton Dial Allen, John Zeigler Flynn, Rupert Lawrence Flynn, Willa Bowdoin Hooker, and Julia Frances Page Rovers. 

Funeral services will be held On October 18th at 3:00 p.m. central time at All Saints Chapel on the University of the South’s Campus. Reception to follow on the campus.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Sewanee Athletic Fund: www.givecampus.com/campaign

The family of John Bowdoin Colmore wishes to extend their sincere gratitude to all those who provided care, friendship, and support throughout his life and during his final days.