John Bartlett Lanigan, Jr., an accomplished safety professional and avid photographer, died Wednesday, May 4, 2016 after battling brain cancer for five months. Known by many as the “safety man” John spent the last 25 years committed to educating, training, and ensuring safe work environments for trade and craft workers throughout the Baltimore-Washington DC metro area.
John began his career in construction as a carpenter and AWS certified welder, and worked as a craftsperson, and teacher in the union apprenticeship program. After more than 20 years in the trades, John earned his Associates Degree and began a career as a safety manager with Clark Construction, and later as a Safety Director with Corman Construction.
John was passionate about improving the education and training available to all his colleagues and peers in the construction industry. John conducted training alongside colleagues at MOSH and other state and local governments. He also loved speaking and training at the American Society of Safety Engineers annual conference, Maryland Governor’s Safety Conference, New Jersey Parks Safety Seminar, Pennsylvania Parks Safety Seminar and many others. John was a member of the Baltimore Metropolitan Chapter of the ABC, Washington Metropolitan Area Construction Safety Association (WMACSA), and Chesapeake Region Safety Council. In 1999 John received the Governor’s Citation for The State of Maryland for promoting safety and health of Maryland’s working population. John served as president of WMACSA from 2007-2008, and was awarded Safety Professional of the Year twice, first in 2010 by Chesapeake Region Safety Council and again in 2014 by WMACSA. John was also a lifetime member of the American Welding Society (AWS), NRA, and an NRA instructor.
John was an artistic creator and storyteller. Whether building playsets for his six children, welding practice targets for shooting, helping his grandchildren with science projects, or designing t-shirts John brought a unique, and creative perspective to each moment of life.
John had a special eye for photography, and loved sharing the moments he captured on jobsites, with his family, travelling the world or simply on the side of the road with everyone. His pictures provide a loving reminder of the beauty and adventure John appreciated and experienced in life.
John loved his family, and is survived by his wife Judith Ann (Speers) Lanigan of Port Deposit, Maryland; daughter Cara Lanigan and husband Bradley Lanigan of El Paso, Texas; daughter Jennifer Permar and husband Gregory Permar of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania; daughter Nicole Lanigan of Edgewater, Maryland; daughter Joan Lanigan of Boston, Massachusetts; son John Lanigan, III of Port Deposit, Maryland; sisters Judith Baptiste and June Bliss; brother George Lanigan; 5 grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. John is preceded in death by his mother and father Dorothy and John Lanigan Sr.; and daughter Kathleen Lanigan.
A celebration of John’s life will be held at 2pm on Saturday, May 7, 2016 at West Nottingham Presbyterian Church, 1195 Firetower Road, Colora, MD 21917, with a visitation from 6-8pm on Friday, May 6, 2016 at R.T. Foard Funeral Home, P.A., 111 S. Queen Street, Rising Sun, MD 21911. Burial will follow the service at West Nottingham Presbyterian Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made payable to “Senator Bob Hooper House” or to “Washington Metropolitan Area Construction Safety Association” and sent care of the funeral home. To send condolences, please visit www.rtfoard.com.