John Anthony Pinkney

John Anthony Pinkney made his debut on April 23, 1938, in Chicago, Illinois, the youngest of two sons born to John Pinkney and Ophelia Watson Pinkney. He lived with his family at 61st and Indiana Avenue in the city’s Englewood community, a place of hard-working families and individuals connected by a mix of courtyard apartments, free-standing homes and two-flats. John attended St. Anselm’s Elementary School and following that, Corpus Christi High School (later known as Hales Franciscan). John loved high school and excelled in basketball and art. He served on the Student Council his Sophomore year, and was Vice-President of his Senior Class. “Johnny” was known for his jokes, and his yearbook listed “Artist” as his future profession. John graduated from high school in 1956 and joined the Air Force. While in the Service he was to go to upstate New York, but his papers were lost. Instead, he was sent to Lincoln, Nebraska where he met a fellow serviceman, Boyd Greene, the youngest brother of Gwendolyn (Gwen) Greene. Gwen would become John’s future wife. John and Gwen dated long distance for some years – he in Chicago, she in Omaha. During that time he took design courses at the Art Institute of Chicago and the American Academy of Art. He also worked as an Administrative Clerk for the Chicago Public Library, handling printing and design duties, and then became a Display Artist for Donnelley Directory. Following that, he launched a career at American Technical Publishers (ATS), where he worked as a Graphic Artist and supervised a team. During the early ATS years John and Gwen married – in 1967 – and welcomed their daughter, Ann Marie, in 1968. The family eventually settled in Chicago’s Avalon Park community, residing there for more than 50 years. John ultimately launched his own business, John Pinkney Designs, creating artwork and marketing materials for Kuumba Theatre and ETA Theatre, Chicago’s pioneering Black theater companies. He created the original design for N’DIGO magazine, a breakthrough publication targeting successful Black Chicagoans, as well as developing marketing materials for the City of Chicago and Sears. John was a loving and devoted husband, father, son and brother to his family, and a true friend to others. He was a man of faith and attended St. Felicitas Church for many years. Later he attended St. Philip Neri. Both parishes were located on Chicago’s South Side. John’s wife, Gwen, preceded him in death in 2023. He leaves his daughter, Ann Marie Pinkney, who will always love him and be grateful for the love, faithfulness and Godly example he provided for his family.

John Anthony Pinkney

April 23, 1938 - July 29, 2026