Obituary of John Lenderman

Lenderman, John C. (Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge, Ret. with senior status), age 80. Beloved and sorely missed husband, father, grandfather and brother, passed away February 25, 2024. Shortly after his birth in Miami in 1943, the family settled in St. Petersburg. He met the love of his life, Candy, at Mirror Lake Junior High. John graduated from St. Petersburg High School in 1962. John and Candy married in 1965 while attending Florida State University. After returning to St. Petersburg, John earned his law degree from Stetson College of Law in 1969. 1976 brought the birth of their cherished daughter, Heather. Then, in 1992, after establishing a reputation of broad and extensive trial experience with positive community involvement, Gov. Lawton Chiles appointed John as a Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge. He lived to fulfill and exceed the expectations of this his ultimate professional level. John went on to receive countless honors and recognitions from his peers and the community. He took great pleasure in mentoring, teaching and the challenges of family law in trying to achieve the most positive outcomes. In addition to teaching in Florida legal education programs, he taught for over 20 years at the National Judicial College in Reno, NV. In 2002, John was invited to share family law/court procedures used here to help guide the establishment of new approaches to child/parental contact early interventions in the United Kingdom. This program was presented at the Royal Society in London.

John loved his family, friends, the law and trains! Our “Popsidoodle, Pops-fixit, Dad, Babe, Energizer Bunny, Mister Safety,” spent a lifetime asking endless questions and pursuing carefully planned adventures. As a youth, he

was an involved Boy Scout, competitive swimmer and sailor, and master of odd jobs. He worked his way through college and law school in the employment of Seaboard Railroad. After law school he served as a senate aide in the Florida legislature before establishing a practice. Some of John’s favorite things over the years were traveling, spending weekends at the cabin on the Withlacoochee, camping, learning to play the ukulele, riding motorcycles off road, cars, all spectator sports, porch sitting, long walks, good books, restoring a vintage tractor, jokes, garage “puttering,” the daily news, Heather’s cooking (especially cookies), train events in Folkston, GA and all the friends who became part of their lives, and relishing every aspect of the grand children’s lives. John embraced life with curiosity, enthusiasm and loyalty.

John is survived by his devoted wife and soulmate, Candy Jones Lenderman, precious daughter Heather Bishop, son-in-law Darren Bishop, cherished grandchildren Emerson and Harper Bishop, sisters Martha Lenderman and Louise Sutton.

A casual gathering to remember John will be held on Friday, March 15, 2024, at the St. Petersburg Museum of History on the Pier approach, north side, at 335 2nd Avenue Northeast (727) 894-1052. Please stop by any time between 5:30pm and 8:00pm. In lieu of flowers, please do something nice to help others through actions or donation to a charity.