John McNitt

John Glasgow McNitt, 72, died on November 30th, 2023, in Centennial, CO. He was born in Chicago, IL on May 31, 1951, the only son of Marianne Tudor McNitt and John Glasgow McNitt Sr. John was a man whose journey in life was as vibrant as the gardens he nurtured. Raised on a farm in Huntley, IL, John's childhood was steeped in the beauty of nature. His education in Huntley and later Freeport, where he played football for the Freeport HS "Pretzels," laid a strong foundation for his future endeavors.

Graduating from the University of Colorado in 1973 with a degree in Business, John quickly ventured into the professional world, managing a Radio Shack store in Sunnyvale, CA. However, his true life journey began with his marriage to Barbara Palmigiano that same year. Together, they embarked on a life filled with adventure, nature, and a shared entrepreneurial spirit. After a brief stint in California, John and Barb moved to Brainerd, Minnesota, where they established a successful greenhouse and floral business, blending their love for nature with their business acumen.

Their family grew with the births of Casey, Sam, and Tony. In 1989, they returned to Colorado, where John continued his passion for gardening through various ventures, including managing Veldkamp's Floral and Greenhouse and later starting Garden Trails, a beautiful garden center in Littleton.

John's life, though tragically shortened by a diagnosis of terminal brain cancer, was marked by resilience, love, and a deep connection to the earth. He leaves behind a legacy of a loving husband, a devoted father, and a man who lived with passion and purpose. John's story is a celebration of a life well-lived, filled with the beauty and vitality of the gardens he so dearly loved.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Barb McNitt, by his three sons, Casey, Sam, and Tony, by his three daughters-in-law, Jaime, Lisa, and Lindsey, and by his seven grandchildren, Ella, Chloe, Dylan, Benjamin, Ruby, Dottie, and Sonny. 

For those of you who have been blessed to know and love him, we invite you to his memorial service on Friday, December 15th at 10:30am at the Abiding Hope Church in Littleton, CO.

In lieu of flowers, memorials or donations may be made in John’s name to one of the following organizations:

National Hemophilia Foundation

https://www.hemophilia.org/give/give-now/honor-a-loved-one/tribute-gifts 

American Diabetes Association

https://diabetes.org/ways-to-give/memorial-gift